Science Fair Ideas - Chemistry

• Acidic and basic solutions - how are they produced; how can they be neutralised; used to modify soil acidity; in lakes; in food; around the home. 
• Recycling plastics; different types of plastic; different uses.
• Chemical change and the factors that affect the rate of reaction (eg heat, light, catalysts, temperature).
• The effects of salts on the freezing point of water and other liquids. 
• Chemical principles in everyday life
• Investigate the factors that affect the rate and the size of growing crystals
• Testing of consumer products such as glues, antiseptics, mouthwash, detergents, paper towels, water filters.
• Chemical reactions that produce or require energy 
• Experimenting with microbial degradation of petroleum
• Compare the surface tension of various liquids 
• Effects of sunlight on rubber, ink, paper.
• Design and test a simple datalogging device for chemistry experiments.  Perhaps a good PICAXE project?
• How catalysts and their use in industry
• Milk Glue is amazingly strong stuff!
• How do acids react with different metals under various conditions 
• Rainwater analysis for pollutants using samples from variuos locations
• Compare the pH levels in mouths of humans at different times in the day 
• Effects of temperature on density of gases 
• What effects do different amounts of exercise have on the production of carbon dioxide in humans? 
• Analyze soil samples for their components, water holding capacity, pH, and minerals 
• Stalagmites - create artificial limestone caves!
• Types and efficiencies of fire extinguishers
• Identify different metals by the colour of flame when they burn 
• Electroplating different metals and uses at home and in industry
• A chemical analysis of the extraction and make up of DNA
• Observation of freezing rates of water for different starting temperatures 
• Observations of crystal formation using a microscope
• The Stanley Miller experiments and the first molecules of Life 
• Find the optimal gas mixture for a Stanley Miller experiment 
• Experimenting with various separation techniques (e.g. electrophoresis) 
• Crime Scene Investigation our award winning CSI course requires some applications of chemistry
• A study of esterification reactions 
• The toxic effects of alcohol on organic molecules
• Consumer product testing of alcoholic beverages and % alcohol determination