Science Projects with Lemons
Lemons are frequently used for science experiments. The yellow fruits lend themselves perfectly to a variety of projects because they are so acidic, easy to use and readily available. Many projects involving lemons are suitable both for school and a fun weekend project for science-enthusiastic kids.
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Make Invisible Ink
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Squeeze some lemon juice into a bowl and mix it with a couple of drops of water. Dip a q-tip into the mixture and use this makeshift writing utensil to write secret message onto plain white paper. The juice-water mixture will become completely invisible once it has dried. A friend, family member or classmate can make the message visible again by holding the paper close to a light bulb or other source of heat. This works, explains the website "Science Kids," because "lemon juice is an organic substance that oxidizes and turns brown when heated."
Lemon Power Battery
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Make a lemon battery using a piece of 18-gauge copper wire, wire clippers, a steel paper clip and, of course, a lemon. Have an adult strip 2 inches of insulation from the copper wire and clip them with the wire clippers. Straighten the paper clip and cut off 2 inches. Roll the lemon on the table to squeeze its insides, but don't rupture its skin. Push the copper wire and the paper clip piece into the lemon. Push them in close together but not close enough so they touch. If you touch the free end of the wires with your tongue now, you'll be able to feel a small tingle. Don't worry, this is not dangerous, and you cannot use the battery to charge anything either since the electrical current is very small. However, it is a fun project to find out how chemical energy is converted into electrical energy.
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Lemon Power Cleaner
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Lemons can be used for tons of different things, including cleaning. Perform a simple experiment: Place discolored pennies in several little containers and cover each one with a different liquid. Try lemon juice with salt, vinegar and Coke or Pepsi. All of these liquids contain different levels of acid and will produce different results. Determine which solution cleans the coin best and why.
Lemon Floaties
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A simpler but equally fun project is determining whether lemons will float or sink in water. To do this experiment, set aside two bowls of water. Add a whole lemon to the first bowl and lemon pieces or slices to the second. Observe what happens and discuss why.
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- Photo Credit lemon image by timur1970 from Fotolia.com
