Did You Know? 10 Surprising Science Facts for Primary School Pupils

Science is all around us, and chemistry is one of its most exciting parts. Whether we are cooking at home, exploring the outdoors or even just brushing our teeth, chemicals are involved in almost everything we do.

From fizzy reactions in your kitchen to the science behind glow sticks and fireworks, we will explore ten exciting facts that bring chemistry to life. 

Along the way, we will show how many of these reactions are not just fun classroom experiments, but also vital to industries such as cleaning, manufacturing, healthcare and energy.

Key Takeaways

• Chemistry is happening all around us, from the classroom to the kitchen

• Many simple experiments teach the same scientific principles used in major industries

• Reactions like rusting, colour changes and bubbling are all linked to real-world chemical processes

• Understanding chemistry early can help pupils relate science to the wider world

1. Everything Around You is Made of Chemicals

From the air we breathe to the food we eat, everything is made of chemicals. Even all the people around us and the walls of our homes are made from different combinations of chemical elements. 

Water is a chemical made from hydrogen and oxygen. The metal in radiators, the plastic of a lunchbox and even the paint on the walls all rely on chemical properties to do their jobs.

This fundamental concept is one of the first children learn in primary school science lessons, and it sets the stage for understanding much more complex reactions later on.

2. Baking Soda and Vinegar Make Fizzy Bubbles

A favourite science experiment in schools involves mixing baking soda with vinegar. When these two combine, they create carbon dioxide gas, which escapes as fizzy bubbles.

This reaction is not just fun to watch, but has many practical applications. In industrial settings, controlled reactions involving acids like acetic acid are used to clean, process and manufacture a wide range of products. 

The same chemical principles apply, just on a larger scale.

3. Liquids Can Evaporate Without Boiling

Did you know that puddles can disappear even on cool days? That’s because evaporation does not always need high heat. Liquids can slowly turn into gas at lower temperatures, too.

Evaporation is used to control drying times and surface finishes across different industries. 

Understanding how this process works is key to designing products that behave in a predictable way in different environments.

4. Some Metals Change Colour Over Time

Have you ever noticed how copper coins turn green or how old silver jewellery gets darker? This happens because the metal reacts with chemicals in the air, like oxygen or sulphur, in a process called tarnishing or oxidation.

This is more than a curiosity. In construction, manufacturing and electronics, engineers use chemical coatings to protect metals from changing colour or corroding too quickly. 

Recognising how metals react helps industries design longer-lasting materials.

5. Glow Sticks Light Up Because of a Chemical Reaction

Break a glow stick and it shines in the dark.  That glowing effect is thanks to a chemical reaction called chemiluminescence, where certain chemicals produce light when they mix.

The same science behind glow sticks is used in emergency lighting and forensic science. 

For example, some industrial cleaning agents use chemicals like hydrogen peroxide to trigger reactions that show contamination or disinfect surfaces through oxidation.

6. Rust is a Result of Metal Reacting With Water and Air

When iron and oxygen react around water, they create rust. This flaky brown substance forms slowly but can eventually weaken metal objects if left untreated.

Learning about rust teaches pupils about chemical reactions between gases, liquids and solids. 

Rust prevention is a major focus in the oil and gas, rail and marine industries, where protecting infrastructure from corrosion is vital for safety and reliability.

7. Ice Floats Because of the Way Water Molecules Freeze

Water is almost unique in that its solid form (ice) is less dense than its liquid form. This is because water molecules arrange themselves in a special pattern when frozen, creating more space between them.

This unusual property is essential for life on Earth. If ice sank, lakes and oceans would freeze from the bottom up. 

It also influences how chemicals behave in cold environments, which is something industrial chemists must consider when designing products used outdoors or in extreme temperatures.

8. Oil and Water Do Not Mix Because of Their Molecules

When you pour oil into water, they separate. This is because the molecules in oil and water are not attracted to each other.

This basic science is used in everything from salad dressings to chemical engineering. 

Understanding how different substances mix, or how they don’t, helps chemists create paints, medicines, cosmetics, and cleaning products with the right texture and behaviour.

9. Some Chemicals Have a Really Strong Smell

You might notice that vinegar, ammonia, or some cleaning sprays have a strong scent. This is because certain chemical compounds easily turn into gases that reach your nose.

These smells can act as useful indicators. A strong odour might signal a leak, a reaction or a change in product quality. 

Chemical engineers often rely on their senses, along with sensors and testing equipment, to monitor these changes.

10. Fireworks Get Their Colours from Different Chemicals

Ever watched fireworks and wondered how all those colours form? Each colour comes from a different chemical element. Strontium makes red, copper gives us blue and barium creates green.

These colour reactions are a fantastic example of how chemicals can produce visible changes. 

The same principle is used in flame tests in laboratories, helping scientists identify which elements are present in a substance.

Conclusion

Chemistry is not just something to learn from a textbook or a series of simple experiments for young learners. It is in every  bubbling reaction, glowing light and floating ice cube. These surprising facts not only make what children learn in primary school science fun, but also help spark curiosity and maybe even inspire the next generation of scientists, chemists, or engineers.