Chemical Sciences
Reactive Chemistry
Students investigate reversible and irreversible chemical change through real reactions: a polymer reversal, a sealed reaction bag and a teacher-led Elephant's Toothpaste demonstration.
Year 5–6
90 min
up to 30 students
$490 + GST
What students will do
Working in pairs, students add water to sodium polyacrylate to produce a near-solid gel, then reverse the change with salt to demonstrate a physical change. They observe bi-carb soda, calcium chloride and phenol red react in a sealed ziplock bag (colour change, gas production, temperature change all in one), then use digital thermometers to measure temperature change in two different chemical reactions side by side. Red cabbage water serves as a pH indicator to classify a range of household chemical solutions. The facilitator demonstrates Elephant's Toothpaste, a rapid exothermic irreversible reaction, as a dramatic whole-class finale.
Curriculum outcomes
Victorian Curriculum v2.0 content descriptions addressed in this session.
- VC2S6U04
Distinguish reversible from irreversible chemical changes using observable evidence including colour change, gas production and temperature change
- VC2S6U04
Use a natural pH indicator to classify chemical solutions as acidic or basic and explain that new substances are formed in chemical reactions
Investigate states of matter using super-absorbent polymers and use scientific vocabulary to describe and compare physical and chemical change
Often booked alongside
Physical Sciences
Electricity
Students build working circuits, classify conductors and insulators, compare series and parallel configurations, and investigate how different energy sources (including hand-powered generators) produce electricity.
Physical Sciences
Light
Students investigate reflection, refraction and diffraction using mirrors, lenses and diffraction gratings, with laser beam demonstrations bringing the physics of light into sharp, visible focus.
Chemical Sciences
Materials & Mixing
Students identify mystery liquids, trigger a chemical reaction, transform a powder into instant snow, use a colour-change indicator, and separate iron filings from sand with a magnet.
Bring Reactive Chemistry to your school
Tell us your year levels and preferred dates. We'll confirm availability and bring everything with us.
Limited dates each term — one facilitator, one school per day.