Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

Science Explanations Are Easy for All to Understand; Detailed Instructions; Easy to Find Supplies; An Opportunity to Share Science
With A Child!

I checked this book out of the library when I needed ideas for experiments to use with elementary age students in a summer enrichment course in chemistry. I liked the book so much that I ordered my own copy. I used a number of the experiments from the book. The experiments are clearly explained and are easy to duplicate using simple chemicals you can buy at the grocery store (and probably already have in your home). The pictures and writing style are light-hearted, which makes this book a fun read.

My 10 year old loves this book. Aside from the one problem mentioned on page 28 I have yet to see any other problems with this book. My daughter is a Do It Yourself Scientist and she has completely loved this book. Most of the 'ingredients' are those easily found at home or in a grocery store. Most of the directions are very clear and easy to follow. Most of the experiments we have tried have turned out really well.

Well worth the money.
Enjoy.