Science experiments are an exciting way to bring theoretical concepts to life, especially for high school students. Here are five fun and award-winning experiments that you can conduct using laboratory equipment and instruments from Livingstone International. Each activity is designed to inspire and educate, using high-quality lab products to ensure accurate and safe results.
1. Elephant Toothpaste Experiment
Mix hydrogen peroxide, dish soap, and potassium iodide in the graduated cylinder to create an exothermic reaction that produces a large, foamy substance resembling toothpaste. This visually stunning experiment teaches students about catalysis and the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide.
Materials Needed:
- 500 mL graduated cylinder
- Hydrogen peroxide (30%)
- Dish soap
- Potassium iodide solution
- Safety goggles
- Lab coat
2. Magic Milk Experiment
Fill a Petri dish with milk and add drops of different food colorings. Dip a cotton swab in dish soap and touch it to the milk. Watch as the colors swirl and mix. This experiment demonstrates surface tension and the interaction between soap and fat molecules.
Materials Needed:
- Petri dishes
- Food coloring
- Dish soap
- Whole milk
- Cotton swabs
3. Volcano Eruption
Place baking soda in the flask, add red food coloring for lava effect, and pour in vinegar. The acid-base reaction produces carbon dioxide gas, creating a bubbly eruption. This classic experiment helps students understand chemical reactions and gas production.
Materials Needed:
- Erlenmeyer flask
- Baking soda
- Vinegar
- Red food coloring
- Safety goggles
- Lab coat
4. Invisible Ink Messages
Use a cotton swab to write a message with lemon juice on the paper. Once dry, apply heat to reveal the hidden message. This activity explores the chemical properties of acids and the effects of heat on organic compounds.
Materials Needed:
- Lemon juice
- Cotton swabs
- White paper
- Heat source (lamp or iron)
5. DNA Extraction from Strawberries
Mash strawberries and mix with dish soap and salt. Filter the mixture through a coffee filter into a beaker. Add chilled isopropyl alcohol to the filtrate to precipitate DNA, which can be spooled out with a glass rod. This experiment introduces students to basic molecular biology techniques and the structure of DNA.
Materials Needed:
- Beakers
- Strawberries
- Dish soap
- Salt
- Isopropyl alcohol (chilled)
- Coffee filters
- Test tubes
Conducting these experiments using equipment from Livingstone International ensures students can safely and effectively engage with scientific concepts. From the dramatic Elephant Toothpaste to the hands-on DNA extraction, these activities will ignite curiosity and foster a deeper understanding of science.
For all your laboratory needs, check out MedCart’s extensive range of high-quality lab equipment and consumables here. Happy experimenting!
