Cool Chemistry Concoctions: 50 Formulas that Fizz, Foam, Splatter & Ooze [Hardcover]

Joe Rhatigan (Author), Veronika Gunter (Author), Tom La Baff (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

The start to a brand-new children's series puts the fun back in science with a little fizz, foam, and chemistry magic.
It's a sure-fire formula for selling success.

What could be more entertaining than grossing out parents with a homemade batch of disgusting runny slime? Or making miniature cave stalactites and stalagmites out of saturated salt solutions and string? These 50 irresistible experiments, explained in terms that children will both understand and appreciate, show just how enjoyable science can be--and that's definitely cool. Even the look of the book has real appeal. All the activities appear on colorful illustrated spreads with an engaging cast of kid characters who show how the science fun is done. Most of the experiments use ordinary household materials, and they provide some delightful visual and tactile effects. See what happens when cola and mint come together. (Hint: take cover!) Watch a rubber balloon inflate itself over a bottle. Bounce a raw egg--with no breakage. Every idea is a winner.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-6–This lively book offers an engaging introduction to science experiments. The projects, many of them classics, are simple and require household materials, although one item, a 35mm film canister, may be difficult to acquire. The zany cartoon illustrations are the perfect accompaniment to the text, which is fun and informative. Readers are reminded that some activities require adult help, and they are encouraged to copy and tack up nearby the two pages of lab rules that are included. Each project begins with What You Need, followed by What You Do and Why It Works. Explanations are clear and concise. The glossary is comprehensive, and the words are italicized in the text. A metric conversion chart is included. While the projects would not be appropriate for a science fair, they tell how to make slime, volcanoes, stalactites, water bombs, and shrunken heads (using apples and Epsom salts) and are sure to interest kids.–Maren Ostergard, Bellevue Regional Library, WA
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Review

“It is a perfect book to bring out on a rainy day or even outside on a sunny one.”  —VOYA

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 80 pages
• Publisher: Lark Books (March 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1579906206
• ISBN-13: 978-1579906207
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 8.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,971,613 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Joe Rhatigan is the author of more than fifteen titles for children and adults, including The Kids' Guide to Nature Adventures and Out-of-This-World Astronomy. He's the former editorial director of Lark Books' children's program, which he launched and ran for seven years. The program's biggest successes included 101 Places You Gotta See Before You're 12!, The Boo Boo Book, and My Very Favorite Art Book: I Love to Draw. Joe lives in Asheville, North Carolina, with his wife, three kids, and cat.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Hazard - Caution, February 10, 2008

By 

Alan Winston "blockplay.blogspot.com" (Seattle) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cool Chemistry Concoctions: 50 Formulas that Fizz, Foam, Splatter & Ooze (Paperback)

On page 28 of this book, a project calls for adding ammonia to "liquid fabric whitener."

I am very concerned that this is not a specific enough designation for some shoppers, and they might end up using bleach product containing chlorine instead of the old-fashioned bluing that is presumably intended.

There are far too many products with "whitens" as one of the claims on the label. Many contain chlorine. Mixing chlorine and ammonia releases a deadly gas.

Anyone seeing a copy of this book in a store, library, school, or private possession should make sure that page 28 has a note added to clearly state that ***No bleach or other chlorine containing product should be used in this experiment - that is not what 'fabric whitener' means - chlorine plus ammonia can KILL***

Aside from that, tho book looks nice. With the proper cautions, it may be a five star book.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the better books of this type, May 22, 2006

By 

Cookie's mom (Lawrenceville, GA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Cool Chemistry Concoctions: 50 Formulas that Fizz, Foam, Splatter & Ooze (Hardcover)

I own several books on science fun for kids. I consider this one of the better ones for ages 9-14. Although there are some ideas carried through several pages, almost every activity stands on its own. Each concoction is presented on its own page with a catchy title like "Soda Slobber" and sections headed "What You Need," "What You Do," and "Why It Works." I liked the scientific explanations--very clear and readable. There are also several one-page articles like "What Makes Your Pop POP" that go into more detailed explanations of the chemistry behind the concoctions. The concoctions mostly consist of experiments with acid/base reactions, air pressure, liquid densities, Ph indicators, and carbonation, plus recipes for polymers, crystals, paint and invisible ink. The text stands on its own; the kid-friendly illustrations are merely decorative. Some recipes do require ingredients that are not readily available every house, such as citric acid or tincture of iodine, but the book mentions in general terms whether they can be purchased in a drugstore or grocery store. A lot of the experiments involve things that splash or are otherwise very messy, but the reader is cautioned to do them outside. I am looking forward to using the geyser made from soda pop and lifesavers with my day camp geology classes--I expect it to be a highlight of the class. And although many of the activities can be found in other books (is there a kids' chemistry book anywhere that does NOT tell how to make slime, create a baking soda volcano, or separate the colors that make up black ink?), the geyser, the Air Freshener Bubbles (made with vanilla extract), and Tie Be Gone (where you dissolve a piece of old clothing) are three activities that I do not recall seeing in other books.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for tweens and older kids, February 10, 2010

By 

Elizabeth Watson "books are our friends" (Chicago-area, IL, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Cool Chemistry Concoctions: 50 Formulas that Fizz, Foam, Splatter & Ooze (Paperback)

Younger tweens and older kids (maybe 8-13 or so) had a blast with this - For the most part, everything you need for all these experiments are already in your kitchen or elsewhere in your house, so you don't need to go out to try and find obscure random ingredients that you'll never use again. The rest of the items can be found at your friendly local megamart or pharmacy. It's so much better than a chemistry kit, where once you use up the provided chemicals, you're done. This book gives you the principles and the recipes - the what and the why. And, yes, some of the things are messy - but that's why kids like it so much. What better way to learn science than to have fun doing it? Yes, some adult supervision is recommended / required, but honestly, you won't mind - because you'll have fun too (as long as you don't mind occasionally temporarily making a mess). Highly recommended.