National Geographic Cool Reactions Chemistry Kit Review: Fun and Educational STEM Experiments

Unleash your inner scientist with the National Geographic Cool Reactions Chemistry Kit! This engaging STEM kit provides a hands-on experience exploring the fascinating world of chemical reactions. Packed with vibrant color changes and exciting fizzing experiments, it's designed to make learning science fun and accessible for young minds. From creating a red cabbage pH indicator to unveiling secret messages, this kit offers a series of captivating experiments, all while reinforcing key scientific principles.The kit arrives complete with everything you need: a comprehensive instruction booklet guiding you through each experiment, along with all the necessary chemicals, tools, and equipment. Prepare to be amazed by the dramatic color transformations and exciting reactions as you delve into the wonders of chemistry. This is more than just a toy; it's an engaging and educational journey into the world of STEM.

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Unboxing and Kit Contents

The National Geographic Cool Reactions Chemistry Kit arrived in a vibrant box showcasing exciting experiments. The packaging clearly highlights the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) focus, promising amazing chemical reactions and color changes.

The National Geographic Cool Reactions Chemistry Kit box
The National Geographic Cool Reactions Chemistry Kit box

Inside, I found a comprehensive booklet guiding various experiments, alongside essential materials. This includes powders, pipettes, scoops, a spray bottle, a marker, and pH strips—everything needed for a successful science adventure.

The contents of the kit, including the instruction booklet and materials
The contents of the kit, including the instruction booklet and materials

Red Cabbage Indicator Experiment

The first experiment involved creating a red cabbage indicator. The instruction booklet clearly outlines the steps: mixing red cabbage powder with water to create the indicator solution.

The red cabbage powder mixed with water
The red cabbage powder mixed with water

Adding citric acid (an acid) to the indicator solution resulted in a dramatic color change to red. This clearly demonstrated the indicator's ability to show the acidity of a solution using pH strips for confirmation.

The color change to red after adding citric acid
The color change to red after adding citric acid

Making it Basic: The Blue Reaction

Next, I created a basic solution using baking soda and water. The red cabbage indicator solution turned a vibrant blue, showcasing its ability to indicate a basic solution.

Adding baking soda to the red cabbage indicator solution
Adding baking soda to the red cabbage indicator solution

The pH strips again provided a way to confirm the solution's basicity, highlighting the effectiveness of the red cabbage indicator in both acidic and basic conditions.

The solution turning blue after adding the baking soda
The solution turning blue after adding the baking soda

The Power of Purple: Combining Acid and Base

This experiment involved mixing the acidic and basic solutions prepared earlier. The result was a fizzy reaction and a striking purple color change.

Pouring the acidic and basic solutions together
Pouring the acidic and basic solutions together

This demonstrated a neutralization reaction, where the acid and base react to form a neutral solution. The visual effect of the fizzing and color change was very impressive.

The resulting purple fizzy reaction
The resulting purple fizzy reaction

Secret Message Experiment

The final experiment involved creating and revealing a secret message using wax crayons and pH paper. Writing on the paper with a crayon created a wax barrier.

Writing a secret message on pH paper with a crayon
Writing a secret message on pH paper with a crayon

Spraying the paper with the acidic solution turned the paper red, except for the areas protected by the wax, which revealed the hidden message.

The revealed secret message after spraying with the acidic solution
The revealed secret message after spraying with the acidic solution

Conclusion and Overall Impression

The National Geographic Cool Reactions Chemistry Kit is a fantastic educational tool for young scientists. The experiments are engaging, easy to follow, and provide a clear demonstration of key scientific principles.

All the materials used in the experiments
All the materials used in the experiments

The kit is well-designed, with clear instructions and all the necessary materials included. The color changes and fizzy reactions are impressive and make learning science fun. Highly recommended!

Final shot of the experiments
Final shot of the experiments