I'm amazed at the number of people who, when parroting some myth like hot water freezes faster than cold, respond with bafflement when I ask if they have ever tested that idea. It's not like it's difficult or expensive to put two cups of water in the freezer and check on them every half hour or so. The cold water will freeze first. Every time. Right there in your own freezer.
I agree.
There is soooooooo muuuuuuch science that is perfectly safe to do in your own home.
Little things... oil and water don’t mix....
Dad used to give us a pair of safety goggles and a lab coat to make us feel like scientists, and to ‘Protect eyes. Always protect the eyes. Safety first.’
He would boil water in an old olive oil can, and then put the lid on it, and let it cool, and we watch it crush itself from the heat loss and contraction of the gas and steam inside...
My favorite, put a 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in a 1/8 cup of vinegar, and watch it react.
Or more fancy, put the vinegar in a balloon. Roll up the baking soda in a tissue, put the tissue in the neck, tie the end, shake, and watch the balloon expand.
This stuff is safe... and it is simple Chemistry and physics.
Dad was cool that way. I wish all parents would do these kind of things for their kids.
He made being a geek so much fun, and taught us to think about things.... and to be safe... all in a few little experiments like that...
Making rock sugar on a stick is fun... all you need is a lot of sugar, water, and a wooden skewer, and time in the fridge... great science in this simple and fun to eat experiment....
Method 1 Making the Sugar Solution
- Heat 2 cups (473 ml) water in a pot, bringing it to a boil. ...
- Stir in the 4 cups (946 g) of sugar in 1/2 cup (118 g) increments. ...
- Remove the solution from the heat and allow it to cool for 15-20 minutes. ...
- Add food coloring and/or flavoring if you don't want plain rock candy.
- Pour it in a glass jar,
- Roll a wet stick in granulated sugar, let it dry
- Prop the stick in the jar, and let it rest in a cool dry undisturbed place.
- It will take a day or so but it depends on how big you want the rock candy to be. The larger you want it to become, the longer you will need to wait. To form the biggest rock candy, wait a week. After a week, it will come to the end of its growth.