Chemical Methods Search Results

How To: Measure pH levels with paper and meters

If you want to know the best way to get an accurate pH measurement, this shows the lab equipment needed and the processes used. When doing chemical reactions, sometimes the acidity or the basicity is important. This is usually defined as pH and measuring it can be very useful for getting the reaction right. There are a few ways to measure pH, and the simplest, cheapest, most reliable method is paper. But that's not all. See a whole lot of ways in this two-part video.

How To: Make a permanent, reusable glow stick

Make a reusable glow stick, glow-in-the-dark-style! Imagine, you'll never have to buy one of those ChemLite's again, because you can reuse this homemade glow stick over and over again. This video tutorial will show you how to make a permanent, reusable glow stick. The materials in this experiment are simple: epoxy resin, straw, and some phosphor powder.

How To: Build a green wind tunnel insect trap

Killing bugs used to be the domain of fancy chemicals that, it turns out, hurt us as much or more than the bugs. If you have a flying pest problem and need a green way to control it, watch this video to learn how to make a DIY wind tunnel trap for your insect nemeses.

How To: Grow potatoes in a bag

There are many benefits to growing your own vegetables and fruits. One of the most obvious is the fact you'll be saving money and preventing any harmful chemicals from entering the body. In this tutorial, you'll find out how to grow one of the most commonly eaten foods out there: potatoes. This time, it's not in a box or planter, but instead in a bag. Check it out and enjoy!

How To: Perform the science experiment "Matter of Degree"

Check out this instructional science video that demonstrates how to perform the experiment "Matter of Degree." From the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry's teacher curriculum, "No Hassle Messy Science with a Wow", these are chemical reactions that result in changing temperatures. Follow the step by step instructions to witness a temperature change. The "Matter of Degree" is a great experiment for students to perform.

How To: Perform the science experiment "Of Cabbages and Kings"

Check out this instructional science video that demonstrates how to perform the experiment "Of Cabbages and Kings." From the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry's teacher curriculum, "No Hassle Messy Science with a Wow", learn about this chemical reaction featuring cabbage juice. This is a great experiment for your students to perform. Follow the simple instructions outlined in this video and do the "Of Cabbages and Kings" science experiment.

How To: Make a super bouncy ball

Make a great ball toy from chemicals, that are not hard to get. The result, if you follow along with this how-to video, is a very bouncy ball. You will need, ethanol, water glass, rubber gloves, beakers and a popsicle stick. Watch this video toy tutorial and learn how to make your own super bouncy ball.

How To: Organically fertilize a garden

Allen shows us how to organically fertilize your vegetable garden. Insect and pest control as well as fertilizer can be used to keep a garden safe for the whole family, as well as pets, as well as producing food free of chemicals. Watch this video gardening tutorial and learn how to organically fertilize a garden.

How To: Do waterless lithography

This video walks you through the steps of how to do waterless lithography. Waterless lithography is a lithographic process that does not require heavy or expensive presses or too many toxic chemicals. It is based in the idea that water and silicone don't mix.

How To: Steam remove paint

John Leeke demonstrates using steam to remove heavy paint build up from wood surfaces in this five minute video. Steam paint removal softens the paint film so it can be more easily scraped away. It works well with the heavy paint buildup commonly found on the exterior of older buildings during house restoration and historic preservation projects.

How To: Get rid of indoor gnats

Indoor gnats, which are also known as fungus gnats, are not only annoying. Their larvae feed on plant stems and roots and can cause considerable damage to seedlings and small plants. Luckily, you can get rid of these obnoxious little pests without using harsh chemicals.

News: Scientists Turn Bacteria into Mini Cyborg Solar Panels

Plants all around us capture sunlight every day and convert it to energy, making them a model of solar energy production. And while the energy they make may serve the needs of a plant, the process isn't efficient enough to generate power on a larger scale. So, scientists from the University of California found a way to treat bacteria with chemicals that turned them into photosynthesis machines, capable of generating products we can convert into food, fuels, and plastics.

How To: Make sodium metal

Learn to make sodium metal with this great video tutorial. Be sure to use latex gloves in the process, as the chemicals can be hazardous. This should not be performed by an inexperienced chemist.

Classic Chemistry: Colorize Colorless Liquids with "Black" Magic, AKA the Iodine Clock Reaction

Want to make boring old colorless water brighten up on command? Well, you can control the color of water with this little magic trick. Actually, it's not really magic, but a classic science experiment known commonly as the iodine clock reaction, which uses the reactions between water and chemicals to instantly colorize water, seemingly by command. You can use different colorless chemicals to produce different colors, and you can even make the color vanish to make the water clear again.

How To: Build a wormery

If you don't have room for a full-scale compost heap, you can always employ the services of some worms. In this handy vermiculture how-to, you'll learn how to build your very own wormery.