[nj_bartel]

I volunteer with an occupational therapist in a psychiatric hospital, where we work with kids aged 5-17.  The OT's focus is on improving direction-following, attention to task, cooperativity, and fine motor skills, all the while keeping the kids from thinking they're working or undergoing therapy by making the tasks fun and interesting.  A chemistry experiment sounded like a great idea to me, as it could hit several of these goals - following the steps in the experiment in the correct order, measuring specific amounts, pouring without spilling, etc.  As far as the fun/interesting factor, I think the kids would !!LOVE!! it.  Many of them are inpatients, and the outpatients are often underpivileged.  As such, chemistry isn't exactly something they get to do a lot, to say the least.

At any rate, the ideal chemistry experiment would have multiple steps, be safe (relatively nontoxic chemicals), and would be interesting in either an auditory, visual, or tactile sense (e.g. reaction produces foam, colors, a goop that they can mess with, etc.)  To be more specific about safety - there isn't really a big danger of one of the kids consuming the chemicals, so the main safety features of the chemicals should include: skin contact can occur without immediate damage, non-volatile (there is a fair chance someone would try to smell a chemical).  Maybe one not so safe reactant would be ok - I'd just have to do that step for them.  The product would have to be safe however.  I realize there likely isn't an experiment that fulfills all of these conditions, but I would love to hear any ideas any of you can come up with.  If the experiment would only be appropriate for the older population, that's definitely fine - it's much easier to come up with simple experiments that could entertain the younger kids (cornstarch goo for example).

Thanks a bunch.

[azmanam]

elephant toothpaste might be fun.  peroxide + yeast + soap + food coloring (optional) = catalytic decomposition of peroxide to O2 and H2O... and LOTS of bubbles.

http://chemistry.about.com/od/chemistryactivities/a/kidelephantdemo.htm
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=elephant+toothpaste

All the SMs are available at a grocery store.  hazards include the heat released upon decomposition of the peroxide (it boils the water to release steam).  It also makes a mess, but it's just soap bubbles (filled with O2).

[nj_bartel]

That's one I was considering   How safe is the moderately concentrated peroxide?  Does it cause any pain on skin contact?  I know it discolors/bleaches the skin - how long does this take generally?

Edit: just looked at the first link and noticed they used 3% peroxide.  Does that really work?  I've never heard of it being done with less than 20.

[azmanam]

I've never personally tried it, so I can't attest to either conditions.  20-30% H2O2 will burn the skin.  If you're going to do it, definitely use 3%, or have the patients suit up in gloves and goggles.

[408]

3% foams less than the head on a beer.

35% quickly produces bleached skin(even if washed off a few min after spilled), that can be itchy.  This is what gloves are for, and it works AMAZING in this demo.

As for improving fine motor control, have them build H2/O2 marshmallow cannons(or any projectile) and then play games relating to their firing.  Essentially a small length of pipe, sealed at one end with 2 electrodes in the cap.  And 2 other electrodes above the water line Add water to the device, insert a marshmallow partly down, and electrolyze (time depending on power source)  Once you have a small amount of H2/O2 mix hook up a BBQ sparker to the electrodes above the water line and fire.

http://www.rmcybernetics.com/projects/experiments/experiments_hydrogen_cannon.htm

[nj_bartel]

Hm, I like the marshmallow gun idea.  It would be fun for the older kids, and it might be allowed if I were to predrill the PVC.  Only thing that makes it iffy is the combustion (I know PVC isn't going to explode when all it has is a marshmallow for resistance, but still, getting any kind of explosion cleared might not happen).  The construction is a bit complicated too (a lot of the kids are MR, in addition to their other diagnoses).  They were allowed to build vinegar/baking soda rockets with some NASA guys though.  I think I might pursue this as a project I do myself that I could bring in completed and allow the kids to use it/them at that stage.  Thanks for the idea.

For the elephant toothpaste, I could potentially make the addition of the peroxide a step I do myself (and use the more concentrated peroxide).  That would still leave 3 additions for the kids to do, which I think would be plenty for them to feel involved.  Setting it up to run with a little extra KI or whatever as the decomposition catalyst would probably be pretty effective in minimalizing residual peroxide, yes?

Thanks you two

[Borek]

Fish tank/carbon dioxide/soap bubbles experiment? Baking sonda+vinegar to produce CO₂ in the tank, then you blow soap bubbles into the tank and they float on the heavier gas. There are modifications, I don't remember them right now.

[nj_bartel]

Also a good idea, thank you.

[typhoon2028]

Elmer's glue + borax (washing soda), makes a silly puddy type substance.

[nj_bartel]

Thank you.  Any idea how effective cornstarch is in replacement of borax?

[billnotgatez]

I just Google -- home science experiments
This was the first one
http://scifun.chem.wisc.edu/HomeExpts/HOMEEXPTS.HTML

It is the more complicated lab experiments that I have trouble finding a good link.

[nj_bartel]

Did elephant toothpaste this week with 12% peroxide and yeast and it went fantastically   They all enjoyed it a lot, even our thug