Question 1

What is soap made of?

Accepted Answer

Soap is made from fats and oils mixed with a special substance called lye. When they come together, they create something that helps wash away dirt and germs.

Question 2

How does soap clean your hands?

Accepted Answer

Soap has tiny parts called molecules that grab onto both water and dirt. When you rub soap with water on your skin, it traps the dirt and washes it away.

Question 3

What makes fizzy drinks fizzy?

Accepted Answer

Fizzy drinks have a gas called carbon dioxide mixed in them. When you open the bottle, the gas escapes and makes bubbles, which tickle your tongue.

Question 4

Why do apples turn brown after being cut?

Accepted Answer

When you cut an apple, its insides are exposed to air. The air causes a chemical change that makes the apple turn brown, kind of like how metal rusts.

Question 5

What’s inside a battery?

Accepted Answer

Inside a battery, there are special chemicals that create electricity to power devices. When you use a battery, those chemicals start a reaction that gives off energy.

Question 6

Why do onions make you cry?

Accepted Answer

When you cut an onion, it releases a gas that can irritate your eyes. Your eyes make tears to wash away the irritation, which is why you feel like you're crying.

Question 7

How does toothpaste clean teeth?

Accepted Answer

Toothpaste has tiny scrubbing ingredients that help brush away food and germs. It also has flavors that make your breath fresh and sometimes fluoride to make your teeth strong.

Question 8

What makes bread rise?

Accepted Answer

Bread rises because of tiny living creatures called yeast. Yeast eats sugar in the dough and makes gas, which creates bubbles that make the bread fluffy.

Question 9

How do glow sticks glow?

Accepted Answer

Glow sticks glow because they have chemicals inside that mix together and light up. When you bend the stick, you mix these chemicals and they produce a glow.

Question 10

Why does ice cream melt?

Accepted Answer

Ice cream melts because it's made of frozen water and cream. When it gets warm, the ice turns back into water, making the ice cream soft and runny.

Question 11

What keeps bananas from ripening too fast?

Accepted Answer

To slow down ripening, bananas need to stay cool and away from other fruits. It's because fruits let out a gas called ethylene, which makes them ripen faster.

Question 12

Why does soda make you burp?

Accepted Answer

Soda has lots of tiny bubbles filled with gas. When you drink it, the bubbles release gas in your stomach, which sometimes comes out as a burp.

Question 13

How do plants turn sunlight into food?

Accepted Answer

Plants use a process called photosynthesis to change sunlight into food. They take sunlight, water, and air and make sugar, which is their food.

Question 14

Why does metal rust?

Accepted Answer

Metal rusts when it gets wet and is around air. The water and air react with the metal to form rust, which looks reddish-brown.

Question 15

How do markers work?

Accepted Answer

Markers have colored ink which flows out when you press the tip. The ink is made of dyes that stick to surfaces and show the bright colors you see.

Question 16

What makes popcorn pop?

Accepted Answer

Popcorn pops because of the water inside its kernels. When heated, the water turns into steam, builds up pressure until the kernel bursts open.

Question 17

Why do crackers have holes?

Accepted Answer

The holes in crackers help them bake evenly and prevent them from puffing up too much. They let out air and steam while baking.

Question 18

How does glue stick things together?

Accepted Answer

Glue is full of sticky molecules that spread out and grab onto surfaces. When it dries, these molecules hold tight and keep things stuck together.

Question 19

Why do candles melt?

Accepted Answer

Candles are made from wax, which melts when it gets hot from the flame. The melted wax turns into liquid and helps keep the candle burning.

Question 20

How does a refrigerator keep things cold?

Accepted Answer

A refrigerator uses a cooling liquid inside tubes that take away heat. As it removes the heat, the inside of the fridge stays cold, keeping your food fresh.

The Chemistry of Everyday Products - 20 FAQs Explained Simply