We love using candy for science experiments, so I was thrilled when we received a review copy of Loralee Leavitt’s Candy Experiments book (affiliate link)! I was even happier to see that the book includes simple explanations of why things happen the way they do.
We’re still busy packing for our coast-to-coast move, so we only had time for one experiment (so far), but my seven-year-old has spent HOURS poring over the book, and I know we will be doing lots of experiments with our Halloween candy this year!
This lifesaver sink or float density experiment works with molasses as well as corn syrup, but I like doing it with corn syrup because it looks a lot like water, but behaves completely differently! Plus, we had a third of a bottle of corn syrup that needed using. :)
The life saver floats on the corn syrup because it is so dense, but it sinks (and starts to dissolve) in the water, fairly quickly. It doesn’t dissolve in the corn syrup, I think due to a combination of the saturation of the corn syrup combined with its density.
We were all out of food coloring and I can’t justify buying it with a move in a week, or I would have tried adding food coloring to the two containers as well. It should disperse more quickly in the water (may not disperse at all in the corn syrup, without stirring – or very slowly). I also was curious to see how well the life saver would absorb the dye.
If you’re looking for alternative uses for Easter candy and Halloween candy, check out this book! It also makes for some great attention-grabbing demonstrations for chemistry class!
We received a review copy of this book, but no other compensation. All opinions are our own. This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.
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Snackable Science is another great edible science resource for kids:
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MaryAnne is a craft loving educator, musician, photographer, and writer who lives in Silicon Valley with her husband Mike and their four children.
Might be worth going trick-or-treating for! :)
Who knew?! Definitely a good use for Halloween candy. Too had I just threw out some from last year.
First off your kids are adorable! Secondly I love these experiments! And Third welcome to Social Fabric!!!
This looks so interesting – thanks for the recommendation! Just stopping by to say HI from the Social Fabric Community!
Oh that does look like a fun book! I’ll have to add it to my wish list.
Your family would have a blast with it!
This sounds like a really cool book – it’s so fun to have alternative uses for candy!
So cool! My kids would love this book!
What a great way to lure kids into science experiments! I hope I can pry some candy out of my kids’ hands to experiment on…
What a fun way to learn science!! Do you kids get to sample the candy too? My kids would love this as an excuse to get candy!!
They did each eat one lifesaver :)
Ooh, this sounds like an excellent book mixing sweets and science. I have to look for it.
I think you and Anna would really enjoy it!
What fun, experimenting with Candy! Could i do it? I might eat all the materials.
Haha!
No, really. :)
I know this is off topic, but it is really super quiet in the bloggy world. Where is everyone?
Dunno – doing back to school stuff maybe?
I’m supposed to be packing…