Chemical Inventory

Complete list of chemicals for home chemistry experiments

Browse our complete collection of chemicals for home chemistry experiments. Each chemical page includes properties, safety information, historical context, and links to experiments that use it.

Chloride Salts

• Sodium Chloride - Table salt, cubic crystals
• Potassium Chloride - Salt substitute, lilac flame
• Calcium Chloride - Exothermic dissolution, spherification
• Ammonium Chloride - Endothermic dissolution, sublimation
• Cobalt Chloride - Humidity indicator (TOXIC)
• Ferric Chloride - PCB etching, Prussian blue
• Cupric Chloride - Blue-green flames
• Lithium Chloride - Crimson flame, hygroscopic

Iodide Salts

• Sodium Iodide - Iodide source, starch-iodine test, Finkelstein reaction

Sulfate Salts

• Copper Sulfate - Blue crystals, electroplating
• Epsom Salt - Magnesium sulfate, needle crystals
• Potassium Alum - Octahedral crystals
• Ammonium Sulfate - Fertilizer, protein precipitation
• Ferric Ammonium Sulfate - Iron alum, purple crystals
• Zinc Sulfate - Electroplating, galvanizing
• Ferrous Sulfate - Iron gall ink, Prussian blue
• Sodium Sulfate - Glauber’s salt, phase change material, retrograde solubility

Mineral Acids

• Hydrochloric Acid - Muriatic acid, metal dissolution, flame test cleaning

Bases

• Sodium Hydroxide - Lye, redox reactions, precipitation, soap making
• Ammonia - Weak base, copper tetraamine complex, pH demonstrations

Carbonates and Bicarbonates

• Sodium Carbonate - Washing soda
• Baking Soda - Sodium bicarbonate, volcanoes
• Calcium Carbonate - Chalk, limestone — CO₂ source and limescale

Hydroxides

• Calcium Hydroxide - Slaked lime, CO₂ detection
• Magnesium Hydroxide - Milk of magnesia

Nitrates

• Potassium Nitrate - Saltpeter, needle crystals
• Silver Nitrate - Mirrors, photography (TOXIC)

Organic Acids

• Citric Acid - Fizzing reactions, invisible ink
• Acetic Acid - Vinegar

Acetates

• Sodium Acetate - Hot ice, supersaturation

Borates

• Borax - Slime, crystal ornaments

Sugars

• Dextrose - Glucose, fermentation

Alcohols

• Glycerin - Glycerol, humectant, vanishing glass, soap by-product

Polymers and Hydrocolloids

• Sodium Alginate - Spherification
• Xanthan Gum - Non-Newtonian fluids
• Corn Starch - Starch-iodine indicator, oobleck

Dyes and Indicators

• Indigo - Ancient blue dye
• Iodine Tincture - Starch indicator, iodine clock reagent
• Methylene Blue - Redox indicator
• Phenolphthalein - Classic acid-base titration indicator
• Red Cabbage Juice - Natural 8-color pH indicator

Chelating Agents

• EDTA - Water hardness testing

Food-Grade Calcium

• Calcium Lactate - Better-tasting spherification
• Calcium Lactate Gluconate - Reverse spherification

Leavening Agents

• Ammonium Bicarbonate - Baker’s ammonia

Nonmetals

• Sulfur - Brimstone, crystal polymorphism, plastic sulfur, vulcanization

Oxides

• Chrome Oxide - Cr₂O₃ permanent green pigment, metal polishing abrasive

Oxidizers

• Hydrogen Peroxide - Oxidiser, catalytic decomposition, elephant toothpaste

Sulfites & Reducing Agents

• Sodium Metabisulfite - Dry SO₂ source, bleach, dechlorinator, preservative

Metals

• Gallium - Melts in your hand, embrittles aluminum

Terpenes

• Menthol - Cooling terpene alcohol, dendritic crystals, sublimation

Silicates

• Sodium Silicate - Water glass, chemical gardens

Citrates

• Ferric Ammonium Citrate - Light-sensitive iron salt for cyanotypes

Sulfur Salts

• Sodium Thiosulfate - Photographic fixer, dechlorinator

Other

• Potassium Phosphate - Buffer solutions