Overview

Covering a wide variety of everyday chemistry concepts from the very simple to the more complex, this question-and-answer primer provides straightforward, easy-to-understand explanations for inquisitive young scientists’ questions. A dozen unique experiments to try at home—from lifting latent fingerprints from a “crime scene” using super glue (for smooth surfaces) or iodine (for paper) to hollowing out the zinc interior of a penny using muriatic acid—are interspersed with the answers to such questions as What makes soda so fizzy? and Why do you get cavities when you eat too much sugar? From separating food coloring into its component dyes to using easy-to-find chemicals to create “slime,” Silly Putty, or bouncing balls, this handy guide is the ideal resource for the budding chemist.

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Author Biography

Alexa Coelho is a curious teenager who asks a lot of chemistry questions. Simon Quellen Field is the author of Culinary Reactions, Gonzo Gizmos, and Why There’s Antifreeze in Your Toothpaste and the creator of the popular website www.scitoys.com. They both live in Los Gatos, California.