 |
Love is in the air for Valentine’s Day! Check out these ideas to celebrate it chemistry-style.
Sections
Activities
- Valentine’s Day Chemistry from AACT
Learn about the chemistry of love using the chemical structures of compounds involved in the biological process of love.
- The Periodic Table: Put Your Love to the Test! from AACT
Students examine a heart-shaped word search to see how familiar they are with the element names.
- Printable Chemistry Valentines from Craftiments
Does your valentine shine like a carbon allotrope? Find this and other free chemistry valentines—ready to print and share!
- Paper Flower Blossoms from AACT
Make colorful paper flowers that bloom in front of your eyes.
Demos
- The Vanishing Valentine from Flinn Scientific
This oxidation–reduction reaction can add some Valentine color to your day. Pink… to colorless… to pink… to colorless…
- Colored Flowers from ThoughtCo.
Let them know you care with flowers. But don’t forget the chemistry twist—color them first using a classic capillary action experiment.
- A Broken Heart for Valentine’s Day
from Kent Chemistry
Do you teach Gas Laws during February? This demo shows a chocolate marshmallow heart breaking in a vacuum!
Labs
- Bath Bomb Chemistry from AACT
Have fun making bath fizzies, then give them as a Valentine gift!
- Chameleon Flowers from MEL Science
Flowers are a traditional Valentine’s gift—add a chemical spin by making paper flowers that can change color depending on pH.
- Exploring the Pigments in Flowers from Scientific American
Have you ever wondered what makes a flower appear a certain color to us? Use paper chromatography to investigate if the pigments from one type of red flower are different from those in another type of red flower.
Articles
- Valentine’s Day: The Chemistry of Love from Compound Interest
Use this infographic to better understand the basic function of the molecules involved in the chemistry of love: serotonin, dopamine and adrenaline.
- Toxicity & Aphrodisia—The Chemistry of Chocolate from Compound Interest
Here’s a sweet infographic to give you the scoop on two dramatically different effects of chocolate.
- Aroma Compounds in Common Flowers from Compound Interest
Put together a lovely bouquet of scent compounds.
Videos
-
The Chemistry of Love from ACS Reactions
Lets look at the chemistry of love. What is the science going on when we fall in love?
-
Milk vs. Dark Chocolate: The Ultimate Showdown from ACS Reactions
The science of chocolate and pitted dark vs. milk. Who will be the victor when it comes to science? Only the chemistry thunder dome will tell...
-
How Can You Make Flowers Last Longer? From ACS Reactions
Sadly, after a few days, that wonderful bouquet may start wilting. Thankfully, Reactions has picked out the best science-backed tips to maximize the freshness of your cut flowers.
-
Choc Full of Science from Science Friday
Crystal formation is essential in making smooth chocolate that's solid at room temperature and melts in your mouth.