If you're tired of using the same old ornaments on your Christmas tree year after year, then it's time to experiment with borax snowflakes. It's not only a fun decoration to make, it's a great science project to try out with family and friends. All you need for to make DIY crystal snowflakes at home are pipe cleaners, borax, a wide-mouth jar, string, a pencil, and boiling water.
If there ever was a day to eat green candy, St. Patrick's Day would be it. But is there something better than the banality of green candy swarming the streets on St. Patty's Day? Yes—glowing green candy, and Instructables user BrittLiv wants us to show you how it's done.
Hydrazine sulfate has many uses, but most notably, it's been used under the trade name of Sehydrin, a treatment for anorexia, cachexia and some even think cancer. But for we DIY chemists, it's useful for something entirely different— as a substitute for the more dangerous pure liquid hydrazine in chemical reactions. NurdRage shows you how to make it via some hypochlorite and the Ketazine process.
Watch this science video tutorial from Nurd Rage on how to make a test tube thunderstorm. They show you how to make the thunderstorm in a test tube using alcohol, sulfuric acid and potassium permanganate.
Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov, from the University of Manchester, have just won the Nobel Prize in physics from their work with graphene. They've found a way to isolate graphene from graphite (carbon in pencil lead) and distinguish its behavior, which holds extreme potential for future technology.
In order to make manganese dioxide electrodes, you're going to need cobalt nitrate and manganese nitrate to do it. Making cobalt nitrate is fairly easy, but making the manganese nitrate is a little more complicated. But not impossible.
Hot ice is a very cool experiment. This is a recipe for homemade 'hot ice' that mimicks the sodium acetate one but only requires simple ingredients!
Aluminum nitrate nonahydrate is a crystalline hydrate - a salt of aluminum and nitric acid - Al(NO3)3·9H2O. It's used for a variety of things such as antiperspirants, corrosion inhibitors, and petroleum refining, or… glow-in-the-dark powder. Watch this science video tutorial from Nurd Rage on how to make aluminum nitrate nonahydrate with Dr. Lithium.
Watch this science video tutorial from Nurd Rage on how to make fire 4 ways without matches by using chemistry, without matches or lighters.
Add a bit of sparkle and pizzaz to your wardrobe! This short tutorial demonstrates how you can add small crystals in whatever pattern you want using the Kandi Kane hotfix wand to add color, sparkle and your own unique touch.
Big fan of James Cameron's history making film, Avatar? In this makeup tutorial learn how to create a human-like Navi appearance with the use of makeup. This "blue people" look took the makeup artist close to an hour & a half, and the following products were used:
In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to make "hot ice". Users will need sodium acetate. Begin by putting the sodium acetate into a pan. Add a small amount water to the sodium acetate. Heat the mixture on a stove until the sodium acetate has dissolved. Pour the solution into a container. Do not pour in any undissolved crystals. Put the container into the freezer or refrigerator for a while. When the solution cools down to room temperature, take it out. Touch the sodium acetate and it will...
In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to make "hot ice". Begin by adding water into a pan and heat it until it’s simmering, but not boiling. Add the sodium acetate to the water. Keep adding the sodium acetate until the water cannot dissolve it anymore. Stir constantly. Now pour the solution into a glass or container. Do not pour in any undissolved crystals. Place the solution into the refrigerator for 45 minutes. Now pour the solution into a container. The liquid will instantly turn into ...
If you've ever gone on a diet then you know that "dessert" usually leaves your vocabulary quickly. But sometimes you gotta live a little and satisfy that sweet tooth! After all, not doing so may just cause you to pig out and totally fail on your diet.
"Tempering chocolate" is one of those intimidating-sounding kitchen tasks that keeps novice cooks away from some really fun stuff like making candy, chocolate-dipped biscotti, and fruit.
Moths can be destructive to stored clothing and food items. Here's how to get rid of them. Watch this video to learn how to get rid of moths indoors.
Tim Carter shows a clever method that prevents tree roots from entering an underground sewer or septic line. Check for underground utilities before attempting this project.
Danielle Proud shows you how to make a beautiful Christmas table centerpiece for your Christmas dinner! Your guests will be amazed at how incredible your table looks. This amazing display catches light and looks simply magical. All you need is an old pair of deer or elk antlers, some sticky-backed crystals, and a little time and creativity! First, take your antlers and sand them until they are smooth and the color you like. Then, take different sized crystals, even different colors if you pre...
Prepare for the boss fight against Griever in the Hollows on the Xbox 360 game Darksiders. The idea here is for you to punch the flatbed train car into the Griever to topple the beast so you can reach his weak spot, that blue spot on it's belly. The problem is however, various blue crystals block the flatbed's tracks so you are unable to move it. As soon as the battle begins, you're goal is to clear the tracks in front of the flatbed of crystals. Run towards the Griever and begin destroying t...
The best chemistry experiments are those you can perform with items already laying around your house. With only some sugar, salt substitute and an instant cold pack, you can make your very own gunpowder! Being able to make homemade gunpowder without a trip to the store can be a lifesaver, no matter if it's just for testing out a Civil War-era musket, blowing up stubborn tree stumps, or preparing for battle when imperialists overrun your country.
In this how-to video, you will learn how to make potassium trichromate. You will need potassium chromate and dichromate. It is easy to go between the two. You can add a base to the dichromate to make the chromate. It will go from orange to yellow. The trichromate can be produced. You will need nitric acid, potassium dichromate, and sodium disulphate. First, make a solution of sodium sulphate. Take a long test tube and the potassium dichromate to it. Add double the volume of concentrated nitri...
If there was a way to make duct tape more desirable and distinct, would you do it? Well, what if there was a way to make duct tape glow? There is a way. Watch this science video tutorial from Nurd Rage on how to make duct tape glow with Dr. Lithium.
This is a video tutorial in the Education category where you are going to learn how to make boric acid from borax. For this experiment you will need borax (disodium tetra borate) and conc. hydrochloric acid. Take 25 ml of hydrochloric acid and dilute it with 75 ml of water. Next take 6 - 7 gms of borax and dissolve it in boiling water. Now add equal amount of hydrochloric acid. Crystals of boric acid will start forming. They are completely insoluble in cold water. After about half an hour, fi...
In order to make a pocket card out of an envelope, you will need the following: a used envelope, printed paper, adhesive, card stock, paper cutter, cuddle bug, an ink pad, stamps, markers, and crystals.
This video teaches you how to create this beautiful pendant by wire wrapping flat briolette crystals
How can hot water form beautiful quartz crystals? This mine is red Georgia clay, with veins of minerals running through it. The veins are hydrothermal. Hydro means water. Thermal means heat. So the veins were caused by hot water. But how could hot water form quartz crystals?
Watch this video to learn how to make a right angle weave beaded bead with Swarovski crystals.
Lynn of CocoDelirious shows us how to temper chocolate - in a microwave! - in this delicious-looking video. She reveals that a sophisticated double-boiler setup is unnecessary; all that you need is a microwave, a candy thermometer, a microwave-save bowl, and a spatula. Glass and ceramic bowls - or any material that will retain heat - are a bad idea when dealing with chocolate. Lynn demonstrates melting the chocolate bit by bit, with short duration microwaving, no more than a minute at a time,...
After you've tried out Nextraker's pillow prank, move onto the medicine cabinet with this deodorant stick prank. All you need is your victim's stick of deodorant (white) and some Kool-Aid (or in this case Flavor Aid).
In this tutorial, we learn how to make a snowflake with beads. You will need: clear crystals, beads, and thread. First, string six beads onto the thread. After this, string a crystal next to the beads. Now, tie this and start to repeat the process on the left side of the beads. Continue to do this process until you have created a shape that looks like a snowflake. You can do as many or as few of these as you would like. This creates a beautiful necklace, or you can use it as a bracelet if you...
Start with an eye pin. Place a gold bead and end cap on it. Now put on a piece called a stamp, or stamping. You want to find one that is curved like a lamp. Next put on a large crystal (8mm). In this video she uses a Swarovski crystal. Find some beads you like and place them on the pin. At the end, place on a large plastic back of an earring to secure the beads and hold the "lamp" upright. Now to make the little beaded fringe at the edge of the lamp, you take another eye pin and thread on som...
Julie Hasson of Everyday Dish TV teaches how to make rosemary garlic crackers. Ingredients: 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1 cup white whole wheat or whole wheat pastry flour, 2 tbsp nutritional yeast, 1 tsp baking powder, 2 tsp dried rosemary, 1 tsp granulated garlic, 3/4 tsp fine sea salt, 1/4 tsp ground pepper, optional (but good!), 1/2 cup water, 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, coarse sea salt crystals, optional. Put all the ingredients in a bowl. Mix. Knead the dough using both hands. Put it on...
Synthesize the odds and ends in your crafts or bead drawers into lovely hoop earrings! Using a few charms, a bow, premade hoop earrings, crystals and two pieces of jewelry wire, this tutorial shows you how DIY your own fashion accessories.
Mixologist Eben Freeman, of Tailor restaurant in New York City, demonstrates how to prepare a variation on the classic Brazilian cocktail, the Caipirinha--substituting kumquats for limes. While the ingredients might be a little unusual, the Caipirinha is easy to make and highly enjoyable. You will need Turbinado sugar crystals, lemon juice, kumquats, and cachaca Brazilian rum-like liqueur. Watch this video mixology tutorial and learn how to make a Brazilian Caipirinha cocktail.
This video jewelry-making tutorial shows how to make these origami crane earrings. You will need tiny origami paper, crimping beads, crystals, earring findings, and jewelry wire. Learn how to fold a crane using the traditional Japanese art of origami and craft it into earrings by watching this video jewelry-making tutorial.
Watch this video to learn how to make a necklace using Swarovski crystals and beading chain.
Ever wondered how to make slime? Now you can learn! Make slime just like they use on Nickelodeon for Halloween, pranks, or just to play with! So gather up your ingredients and get cookin'!
In the Western world, the only time you'd associate food with cockroaches is health code violations. And while other cultures and countries are more open to cooking with and eating these and other little buggers, insects are probably not a food trend that will be adopted by the West anytime soon.
This video tutorial is in the Education category which will show you how to make sodium bromate and potassium meta-periodate. This experiment uses toxic chemicals and releases harmful gases. First you have to make a saturated sodium bromide. To this solution then add a small amount of potassium dichromate. The solution now becomes concentrated. Then make the circuit as shown in the video. You need a 3 - 5 ohm resistor in order to reduce the current. Then let the cell run for around 6 hours. S...
In this tutorial, we learn how to make silicate salt. First, you will need to add sodium silicate with boiling water. Keep adding the sodium and then stirring in small amounts until it is completely dissolved. Then, allow the mixture to cool off and add in nickel chloride. You will now start to see a spongy green mixture coming from the chloride which is the nickel chloride reacting with the sodium. Do this again with cobalt chloride and watch the crystals start to form. Watch these grow and ...
