For anyone with an interest in science that doesn’t have access to a lab, YouTube can be your best friend. Professional and amateur chemists all over the world post their science experiments on YouTube for viewers to be amazed and educated by.
We’ve found some of the best science experiments on YouTube. Here you will find video chemistry experiments, demonstrations and chemical reactions. Safety is a priority when carrying out any of these science experiments. Always wear gloves and other appropriate safety clothing, and carry out experiments in a well-ventilated area.
In this post:
Science Experiments for Kids
1. Colour Changing Cabbage Experiment, The Royal Institution
The Royal Institution has a thriving YouTube channel filled with videos of science experiments and findings from social science experiments. It’s an attraction for people of all ages and abilities, but they have one playlist that gets a lot of attention in the world of science education: ExpeRimental.
This playlist is full of fun science experiments that kids will love and can try at home, at school, or in the playground – with adult supervision!
2. Incredible Iodine Chemical Clock Reaction, Incredible Science
Incredible Science has a YouTube channel that kids could spend hours looking at and recreating some of the tricks. Incredible Science shows us how to make edible slime in the microwave, edible water balls and more – if it’s slimy, colourful and can be made at home, you will probably find it here.
The incredible iodine chemical clock reaction is a visually impressive science experiment that sees two clear solutions instantly change to black:
Exploding Science Experiments
3. Black Snake Science Experiment, Crazy Russian Hacker
Crazy Russian Hacker is a YouTube presence well-known for his “out-there” science experiments and life hacks – usually ones you should not try at home! You can expect explosions and funny commentary, as well as science and safety information.
His playlists include ‘Cool Science Tricks’, with everyday items such as water bottles and butter, ‘Incredible Chemical Reactions’ and ‘Zombie Survival Tips’. You’ll also find life hacks on subjects like ‘How to peel an egg like a boss’.
4. Elephant’s Toothpaste, Science Bob
Science Bob has a popular YouTube channel filled with science experiments and science demonstrations. He even appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live a few years ago to showcase some of them.
Science Bob demonstrated a number of science experiments to Jimmy Kimmel and his live audience, introducing the amazing results we can achieve with science. One experiment was the famous Elephant’s Toothpaste experiment. This uses potassium iodide and washing-up liquid to catalyse the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide, resulting in a huge explosion of colourful foam:
Science Experiments at Home
5. Fire Water Balloon, Sick Science!
Making science fun, Sick Science! is comprised of videos containing science tricks and food science – most of which you could replicate and impress your friends with!
In this video, the host of Sick Science! demonstrates what you can achieve with just a little bit of science knowledge, and presents a demonstration using nothing but water, a balloon, and a candle. By adding some water into the balloon before blowing it up, the balloon will no longer burst on contact with the flame. This is because water is a great conductor of heat. Check it out:
Dangerous Science Experiments
6. Copper Sulphate (slow motion), Periodic Videos
Periodic Videos is an online resource that can really educate you on some aspects of chemistry. The host discusses what is happening in the chemical reactions and has uploaded a number of slow motion videos so you can examine the results in more detail.
Watch a chemical reaction in slow motion as copper sulphate and ammonia react, resulting in colour change and precipitation. The pale blue solid we’re left with is a mixture of copper hydroxide and copper sulphate. Just be careful when handling these chemicals as both can be harmful if inhaled or touched.
7. Reaction Between Iodine and Zinc, koen2all
Koen2all has a YouTube channel full of chemistry reactions and text explanations of what is going on in each video. The videos are silent and there are no gimmicks; just clear demonstrations and a bit of information about the chemical reactions.
This chemistry experiment shows the exothermic reaction between iodine and zinc, which gives off a purple smoke with the addition of water. Always remember to wear eye protection if you decide to do this one!
8. Sulphuric Acid and Sponge Reaction, Crazy Russian Hacker
Another chemistry experiment from Crazy Russian Hacker – he has such a wide variety of videos that will appeal to everyone (even those who hated Chemistry at school). His videos present the exciting results you can achieve and he stresses that safety is the number 1 priority.
In this video, CRH shows how sulphuric acid seems to burn through a sponge and cause a black, fizzing deposit – even though the acid is not hot. He encourages viewers to discuss the science in the comments section to explain why the reaction occurs.
Science Experiments at Home
9. Making Crystals, The Q
You can check out the Q for a huge range of ‘How to’ videos, from how to make a car at home and how to make chainmail out of coins, to the video we’re talking about today – how to grow crystals from the comfort of your own home.
This video demonstrates how we can experiment with different salts to crystallise them, leading to different sizes and colours of crystals.
10. Chemical Traffic Light, Thoisoi2
This video from Thoisoi2 shows a chemical “traffic light” reaction, where a solution changes into the colours of traffic lights simply by being shaken up. The video gives clear instructions on how to carry out the science experiment yourself and gives the science behind why the reaction occurs.
This entire YouTube channel is filled with science demonstrations – some of which viewers can try out – and the host is working to encourage others to share his love of science.
Knowledge about chemical reactions is the basis of lots of the work we carry out at ReAgent, and we receive lots of orders from amazing companies hoping to use our chemicals in very interesting ways.
