101 reasons not to open a book titled "101 science experiments to do at home".

[snigger]

(1) You will attempt to grow a pineapple from the cast off head of another pineapple, and your DC's dreams of tropical fruit paradise will be replaced by a ziploc bag of mould.

(2) Water, salt, string, and a warm place make a jam jar of mildew, not diamonds.

We did actually waste use a whole egg, but I guess if you 'blew' the egg first you might be able to get the same effect. Perhaps though it wouldn't sink under the water?

An old washed-out brillo pad might do for the wire wool. If you're home educating, you probably ought to buy some of the science kits available, that should provide basic kit at least. They do vary though, some of the ones for younger kids are a bit rubbish.

Anyone know where to get larger quantities of chemicals though - DD got a chemistry kit for xmas (she's 10) but the quantities provided are very small. When we were kids you could actually buy chemicals like potassium permanganate and copper sulphate from the chemists but I somehow doubt Boots stocks much now other than bicarb!

google chemical supplies - you come up with sites like this that might be useful.

GrimmaTheNome, the cola and mentos is pretty impressive but you have to be quick about moving away from the bottle!

This book is on my wishlist!

yep, we got iron filings from breakfast cereal. Used rice crispies, made them really sloppy with water in the blender, and a mega powerful magnet.

DS had a science birthday party and we did that experiment, plus alka seltzer lava lamps, slime, coke and mentos, red cabbage indicator solution...most of the ideas courtesy of Katz who did a science party for her DD a month or 2 before!

Im confused! How can you 'make' iron fillings from ricekripies - when they arent made of iron - or magnetic?

rice krispies are fortified with iron - if you mush them in a blender with water, and put resulting goop in a clear plastic cup. Then put a very strong magnet on outside of cup in oner place. slowly stir the gloop inside - after a couple of minutes if your magnet is strong enough tiny irom filings collect on tghe inside of the cup where the magnet is. Weird but true!

Wow that is genius

I am still keen to know where to buy 'real' chemistry stuff though

Try the TTS website

My ds tried the experiment where you put a tooth in a cup of coke and leave it for a few days(?). It is supposed to disappear.
Well my dh made it disappear alright-he threw the bloody cup away!!!

Ds then tried one doing something with an egg. I think he had to put it in vinegar and leave it for several days(can't remember what was supposed to happen). Anyway along came dh again and used the egg!!! he boiled it for his salad!!! Neither myself or ds had the heart to say anything.