Chemical Reactions

Here is the science behind the coolest chemical reactions that you’ve seen on Reddit, YouTube or elsewhere on the web.

Related Topics: Elements, Energy

Latest Updates

A glass of water being filled from the faucet in the sunlight.

Scientists find a simple way to destroy 'forever chemicals' — by beheading them

By Stephanie Pappas published 24 August 22

PFAS chemicals, known as "forever chemicals" because they don't break down in nature, can be beheaded with a simple, inexpensive method.

An illustration depicts Titan's dense yellowish atmosphere above a river of methane on the moon surface

Moon-in-a-jar recreates the hazy atmosphere of Titan, Saturn's largest moon

By Nicoletta Lanese published 26 August 21

A new experiment recreated Titan in small glass cylinders.

A rare meteorite found in England in March 2021.

4.6 billion-year-old meteorite found in horseshoe footprint

By Stephanie Pappas published 21 July 21

A meteorite found nestled in a horseshoe imprint in England was formed in the early days of the solar system and may contain the building blocks of life.

Turn milk into plastic in this fun hands-on science experiment.

Summer School with Live Science: Turn milk into plastic

By Diana Whitcroft last updated 19 January 22

This Friday (July 9), we will explore the chemistry of milk plastic, (or casein plastic) in our new kids video series: Summer School with Live Science.

Egg drop experiment, which is part of the Summer School with Live Science.

Summer School with Live Science: Egg Drop Challenge

By Diana Whitcroft last updated 18 June 21

Live Science will explore the critical field of engineering in our new kids video series: Summer School with Live Science.

Summer School with Live Science: Lemon volcanoes

By Diana Whitcroft last updated 22 June 21

Live Science will explore the eruptive realm of acid-base chemistry in our new kids video series: Summer School with Live Science.

Lightest-known form of uranium created

By Mara Johnson-Groh published 3 May 21

Scientists have discovered a new type of uranium that is the lightest ever known.

Scientists transitioned ammonia into a metallic bronze.

Scientists finally solve the mystery behind a 100-year-old chemistry experiment

By Stephanie Pappas last updated 1 July 20

Scientists may finally understand the mysterious transition behind a century-old chemistry experiment involving metals.

Whoa! Enormous 'Cotton Candy' Explosion in Kids' Chemistry Lab

By Stephanie Pappas last updated 8 March 22

A classic chemistry demonstration gets supersized in a recent Twitter video.

How Did These Kids Make a Towering Bubble Bath Igloo?

By Stephanie Pappas published 19 January 18

A GIF shows kids playing inside a huge tower of bubbles.

Watch This Bottle of Water Freeze Over in the Blink of an Eye

By Stephanie Pappas published 18 January 18

A way-cool clip posted on Reddit shows the strange phenomenon of a "snap freeze."

Goopy GIF: You Can't Look Away from This Mesmerizing Experiment

By Stephanie Pappas published 13 January 18

A weird GIF highlights the magic of ferrofluids.

Even Chemists Are Baffled by This GIF of a Droplet Spiraling to Its Doom

By Brandon Specktor published 12 January 18

Why does this drop of liquid look like a spinning galaxy? It's complicated.

Think Xenon Gas Is Boring? See What Happens When It Gets Excited

By Jesse Emspak published 14 December 17

A glass tube filled with lightning sparked plenty of attention after it was posted on Reddit this month. Here's the science behind the trick.

Here's How Steel Wool Burns (and Why It Looks Like the Death of Krypton)

By Jesse Emspak last updated 3 January 20

Steel wool is absolutely magnificent when lit on fire, as Reddit user ChazDodge showed in a recent video that makes the wiry, burning puff look like the death of the planet Krypton.

Watch Acetone Vapor Melt a Calculator Like a Salvador Dalí Painting

By Jesse Emspak published 21 October 17

Here's how one YouTube user literally dissolved a calculator, creating a surreal and hypnotic video of the cool chemistry.

Microscopic Look at Seasonal Colors Dazzles the Eyes in Video

By Kacey Deamer published 19 January 17

The video is an "exploration of visual art under a microscope."

Transition State During Chemical Reaction

'Impossible' Feat: Scientists Measure Energy of Atoms During Reactions

By Charles Q. Choi published 11 December 15

How to Turn an Inkjet Printer into a Bio Lab (Op-Ed)

By Mark Lorch published 26 September 14

The Fireworks Inside Us All

By Carolyn Beans for the National Institutes of Health published 9 July 14

This 4th of July let’s enjoy the spectacular displays inside us, too.