Chemistry Activities for Kids: Week 3 - Metal Madness

Chemistry Activities for Kids Week 3 - Metal Madness From Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D., your Guide to Chemistry Metals often exist as pure elements, like copper or iron. Another common type of metal is an alloy, which is a mixture of two or more elemental metals. Example of alloys include brass, bronze, and steel. Let's take a closer look at metals... Metal Projects and More See the Iron in Cereal  Did you know that you can actually see the iron your breakfast cereal? All you need is a magnet and some water (and the cereal). It's really easy, so try it! Metal Quiz Are you the master or mistress of all things metal? Here's your chance to test your knowledge. Can you answer all ten questions correctly? Make Heat with Metals You can combine rust (iron oxide) and vinegar to generate heat. This is an excellent example of an exothermic chemical reaction, which is basically any reaction which releases energy as heat. Pretty cool, huh! Some Like it Cold I couldn't give you an exothermic reaction without giving an endothermic reaction, too! Endothermic reactions absorb energy, so they feel cold. This reaction uses baking soda. Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate, a compound made from a metal, sodium. Metal Facts What Do They Have in Common?  There are a lot of different types of metals, but they have certain properties in common. Can you guess what they are? How Does Stainless Steel Remove Odors? Did you know that you can remove onion and garlic odors from your fingers by rubbing them against a stainless steel spoon? There's some mysterious chemistry involved here! Got Questions? Visit the Chemistry Forum  If you are age 13 or older you can ask and answer questions at the chemistry forum. Forum members include anyone interested in chemistry. You'll find scientists, engineers, students, parents, and other people just like you with an interest in chemistry. Looking for More Projects? Fun Activities for Kids  Here's a list of some of the most popular science projects for bored kids. These activities are safe and use common household materials. Best Science Toys Sometimes you might prefer to purchase an educational toy rather than start a project from scratch. Are you looking for ideas for good toys? Here's the list I made for myself to jog my own memory before my kids' birthdays and other holidays. Home Chemistry Kit Here's a list of projects that you can do at home. I've included a list of common supplies you might want to have in order to start up a home chemistry lab. For each project, I've listed the materials and stated an appropriate age range. This email is written by:  Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.