Chemistry set facts for kids
A chemistry set is a cool educational toy. It lets you do simple chemistry experiments at home. These sets are usually for teenagers who love science.
Contents
Why did chemistry sets change?
Around the 1960s, people started worrying more about safety. This meant that chemistry sets had to change. New rules and laws were made to keep kids safe. For example, in the United States, laws like the Federal Hazardous Substances Labeling Act (1960) and the Toy Safety Act (1969) were introduced. A group called the Consumer Product Safety Commission was also created in 1972.
These changes led to chemistry sets becoming less popular in the 1970s and 1980s. Some companies that made them, like the A. C. Gilbert Company and the Porter Chemical Company, even closed down.
Today, most chemistry sets have fewer chemicals. They also have simpler instructions. Many kits are now made for just one type of experiment. But don't worry, you can still find some great sets! Some, like those from Thames & Kosmos, offer more advanced experiments.
What's inside a chemistry set?
Chemistry sets come with different tools and chemicals. Here's what you might find:
Equipment
- vials of dry chemicals
- Metal wires, like copper, nickel, or zinc
- Tiny pieces of metal, such as iron
- graphite rods (like pencil lead)
- A balance and small weights to measure things
- A measuring cylinder to measure liquids
- A thermometer to check temperature
- A magnifying glass to see small details
- pipettes for dropping small amounts of liquid
- beakers, retorts, flasks, test tubes, or U-tubes (these are containers for experiments)
- cork stoppers to close containers
- watch glasses (small, round glass dishes)
- Glass and rubber tubing
- Test tube holders, retort stands, and clamps to hold equipment
- An alcohol burner or another way to heat things
- A filter funnel and filter paper to separate liquids from solids
- universal indicator paper or litmus paper to test if something is an acid or a base
- Safety goggles to protect your eyes
- An instruction manual to guide your experiments
Chemicals
Here are some of the chemicals you might find in a chemistry set:
- Aluminium ammonium sulfate
- Aluminium sulfate
- Ammonium chloride
- Borax
- Calcium chloride
- Calcium hydroxide
- Calcium oxide
- Calcium oxychloride
- Calcium sulfate
- Cobalt chloride
- Cupric chloride
- Copper sulfate
- Ferric ammonium sulfate
- Ferrous sulfate
- Gum arabic
- Magnesium ribbon
- Magnesium chloride
- Magnesium sulfate
- Manganese sulfate
- Phenolphthalein
- Potassium chloride
- Potassium iodide
- Potassium permanganate
- Potassium sulfate
- Powdered charcoal
- Powdered iron
- Sodium bisulfate
- Sodium bisulfite
- Sodium carbonate
- Sodium ferrocyanide
- Sodium silicate
- Sodium thiosulfate
- Strontium chloride
- Sulfur
- Tannic acid
- Tartaric acid
- Zinc sulfate
The instruction manual often suggests using other chemicals too. These are usually common household chemicals you might already have:
- Acetic acid (found in vinegar)
- Ammonium carbonate (also known as "baker's ammonia")
- Citric acid (found in lemons)
- Ethanol (found in denatured alcohol)
- Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda)
- Sodium chloride ("table salt")
Some other chemicals, like strong acids or bases, are not usually shipped with the set. This is because they need to be handled very carefully. You might need to buy them separately from a drug store if an experiment calls for them:
Images for kids
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Description of a portable chest of chemistry, 1791
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Griffin’s Chemical Laboratory, Glasgow, around 1850.
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Porter Chemcraft Senior Set, 1957, at the Science History Institute
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A Gilbert chemistry set from the 1940s
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Gilbert Lab Technician Set for Girls, 1958, at the Science History Institute
