Chemistry for children: interesting experiments

Such a complex but interesting science, like chemistry, always causes ambiguous reactions among schoolchildren. Children are interested in experiments, which result in substances of bright colors, gases are released or precipitation falls out. But only a few of them like to write complex equations of chemical processes.

Significance of entertaining experiments

According to modern federal standards, design research activities have been introduced in general education schools. Such a subject of the program as chemistry was also not left without attention.

In the context of studying complex transformations of substances and solving practical problems, a young chemist in practice hones his skills. It is in the course of unusual experiments that the teacher shapes his interest in the subject from his pupils. But in ordinary lessons the teacher finds it difficult to find enough free time for non-standard experiments, and there is no time to conduct experiments on chemistry for children.

To correct this, additional elective and elective courses were invented. By the way, many children who are fond of chemistry in 8-9 classes, in the future become doctors, pharmacists, scientists, because in such studies a young chemist has the opportunity to independently conduct experiments and draw conclusions on them.

What courses are associated with entertaining chemical experiments?

In the old days, chemistry for children was only available from the 8th grade. No special courses or extracurricular activities of chemical orientation were offered to children. In fact, the work with gifted children in chemistry was simply absent, which negatively affected the attitude of schoolchildren towards this discipline. The guys were afraid and did not understand complex chemical reactions, made mistakes in writing ionic equations.

In connection with the reform of the modern education system, the situation has changed. Now in the educational institutions, experiments for children are also offered in the lower grades. Guys with pleasure do the tasks that the teacher offers them, they learn to draw conclusions.

Optional courses related to chemistry help senior students to gain skills in working with laboratory equipment, and invented for younger students contain bright, demonstrative chemical experiments. For example, children study the properties of milk, get acquainted with those substances that are obtained by souring it.

Water-related experiments

Entertaining chemistry for children is interesting, when during the experiment they see an unusual result: gas evolution, bright color, unusual sediment. Such a substance as water is considered ideal for carrying out a variety of entertaining chemical experiments for schoolchildren.

For example, chemistry for children of 7 years can begin with an acquaintance with its properties. The teacher tells the children that most of our planet is covered with water. The teacher informs the pupils and that in watermelon it is more than 90 percent, and in man - about 65-70%. Having told schoolchildren about how important water is for a person, you can offer them some interesting experiments. In this case, it is worth emphasizing the "magic" of water to intrigue schoolchildren.

By the way, in this case the standard set of chemistry for children does not involve any expensive equipment - it is possible to limit oneself to available devices and materials.

The Ice Needle Experience

We give an example of such a simple and also an interesting experiment with water. This construction of ice sculpture - "needle". For the experiment, you will need:

• water;
• salt;
• ice cubes.

The duration of the experiment is 2 hours, so in the usual lesson, such an experiment will not be conducted. To begin with, you need to fill the ice form with water, put it in the freezer. In 1-2 hours, after the water turns into ice, entertaining chemistry can continue. For the experiment, 40-50 ready ice cubes will be needed.

At first, children should lay 18 cubes on the table in the form of a square, leaving an empty space in the center. Then they, first sprinkled with table salt, are gently applied to each other, thus gluing together.

Gradually, all the cubes are connected, and as a result, a thick and long "needle" is formed from the ice. To make it, enough 2 teaspoons of table salt and 50 small pieces of ice.

You can paint the water, make ice sculptures in different colors. And as a result of such a simple experience, chemistry for children of 9 years becomes an understandable and fascinating science. You can experiment by gluing cubes of ice in the form of a pyramid or diamond.

The Tornado Experiment

This experience does not require special materials, reagents and tools. Make it guys can in 10-15 minutes. For the experiment, we reserve:

• Plastic transparent bottle with lid;
• Water;
• Dishwashing detergent;
• Sequins.

The bottle should be filled with 2/3 water. Then add to it 1-2 drops of dishwashing detergent. After 5-10 seconds in a bottle pour a few pinch spangles. Tightly twist the lid, turn the bottle upside down, holding the neck, and turn clockwise. Then stop and look at the resulting whirlwind. Until the moment when the "tornado" will work, you have to scroll the bottle 3-4 times.

Why there is a "tornado" in an ordinary bottle?

When a child performs circular movements, a vortex appears, similar to a tornado. The rotation of water around the center is due to the action of centrifugal force. The teacher tells the children how terrible the tornadoes are in nature.

Such experience is absolutely safe, but after it, chemistry for children becomes a truly fabulous science. In order for the experiment to be more vivid, it is possible to use a coloring material, for example, potassium permanganate (manganese).

Experiment "Soap Bubbles"

Want to tell the children what is entertaining chemistry? Programs for children do not allow the teacher to give due attention to experiments in class, there is simply no time for it. So, let's do this optional.

To pupils of junior classes this experiment will bring a lot of positive emotions, and it can be done in a few minutes. We will need:

• liquid soap;
• A jar;
• water;
• Thin wire.

In a jar we mix one part of a liquid soap with six parts of water. We bend the end of a small piece of wire in the form of a ring, We lower it into a soapy mixture, carefully pull out and blow out a beautiful soap bubble of our own making.

For this experiment, only a wire that does not have a nylon layer is suitable. Otherwise, they will not be able to blow bubbles.

In order for the children to be more interesting, you can add a food coloring to the soap solution. It is possible to arrange soap competitions between schoolchildren, then chemistry for children will become a real holiday. The teacher thus introduces the children to the concept of solutions, solubility and explains the causes of bubbles.

Interesting experience "Water from plants"

To begin with, the teacher explains how important water is for cells in living organisms. It is through it that nutrients are transported. The teacher notes that in case of insufficient water in the body, all living things die.

For the experiment, you will need:

• An alcohol lamp;
• Test tubes;
• Green leaves;
• A holder for a test tube;
• Copper sulfate (2);
• beaker.

This experiment will take 1,5-2 hours, but as a result, chemistry for children will be a miracle, a symbol of magic.

Green leaves are placed in a test tube, fixed in a holder. In the flame of the alcohol lamp 2-3 times it is necessary to heat the whole test tube, and then it is done only with the part where the green leaves are.

The glass should be placed so that the gaseous substances released in the test tube enter it. As soon as the heating is complete, add a grain of white anhydrous copper sulphate to the drop of the liquid inside the glass. Gradually the white color disappears, and the copper sulfate becomes blue or blue.

This experience brings children to full delight, because their eyes change the color of substances. In conclusion, the teacher tells the children about this property, such as hygroscopicity. It is thanks to its ability to absorb water vapor (moisture), white copper sulfate changes its color to a blue color.

The Magic Wand Experiment

This experiment is suitable for an introductory lecture on an elective course in chemistry. Preliminary from the filter paper, you need to make a star-shaped blank and soak it in a solution of phenolphthalein (indicator).

In the course of the experiment, the star attached to the "magic stick" is first immersed in a solution of alkali (for example, in a solution of sodium hydroxide). Children see how in a few seconds it changes color and a bright crimson color appears. Further, the colored form is placed in an acid solution (for the experiment the hydrochloric acid solution will be optimal), and the crimson color disappears - the asterisk again becomes colorless.

If the experience is spent for kids, during the experiment the teacher tells a "chemical tale". For example, the hero of a fairy tale may be an inquisitive mouse, who wanted to know why there are so many bright colors in a magical land. For pupils of grades 8-9, the teacher introduces the concept of "indicator" and notes what indicators can determine the acid environment, and what substances are needed to determine the alkaline solution medium.

The experience of "Gene from a bottle"

This experiment is demonstrated by the teacher himself, using a special hood. The experience is based on the specific properties of concentrated nitric acid. Unlike many acids, concentrated nitrogen is able to react chemically with metals located in the series of metal activities after hydrogen (with the exception of platinum, gold).

In a test tube you need to pour it and add a piece of copper wire there. Under the hood, the test tube is heated, and the children observe the appearance of "red gin" vapors.

For pupils of grades 8-9 the teacher writes the equation of the chemical reaction, identifies the signs of its flow (change in color, appearance of gas). This experience is not suitable for demonstration outside the walls of a school chemical cabinet. According to the safety rules, it involves the use of a hood, since the nitric oxide ("brown gas") pairs pose a danger to children.

Home Experiences

In order to warm up the interest of students in chemistry, you can offer a home experiment. For example, to conduct experience in growing crystals of table salt.

The child should prepare a saturated solution of table salt. Then put a thin branch in it, and, as evaporation from the water solution, the crystals of table salt will grow on the branch.

Do not shake or turn the jar with the mortar. And when in 2 weeks the crystals will grow, the stick should be carefully removed from the solution and dried. And then, if desired, you can cover the product with a colorless varnish.

Conclusion

In the school curriculum there is no more interesting subject than chemistry. But in order that children are not afraid of this complex science, the teacher should devote sufficient time to his work to entertaining experiments and unusual experiments.

It is almost the skills that are formed during this work, and will help stimulate interest in the subject. And in the junior classes entertaining experiments are considered by GEFs as an independent project and research activity.