Yes you read that title correctly and this is possibly one of the most surprising subscription sets I have so far come across. Now don’t get any silly ideas. I am certainly not donning white overalls and risking blowing my house up; No! These kits are aimed towards the younger generation meaning teens and pre teens 12 and over. It does help to have a young science boffin in the home (AKA Ryan) who is almost 12. Science and especially so chemistry is one of his favourite subjects plus he has had various science home kits too over the years.
Mel Chemistry is a monthly subscription service and each month brings 3 new boxed kits to do at home. It costs just less than £30 a month so less than £10 per kit. The first month is higher as you also need the starter kit.
This starter kit contains the main equipment to use with all the monthly kits. Beakers, glasses, lenses, syringes and even a solid fuel stove all come with the starter kit. Plus a full guide on what everything is for along with useful chemistry information.
As well as the starter kit, your also sent a reagent pack on firsr subscription. Now I was a little baffled by this one as its a box containing some pretty serious chemicals all in large bottles and probably not the sort of thing I’d want to hand to a teenager.
Also the monthly kits already come with the necessary chemicals so still unsure on why these are needed. I am thinking they may be sent to make up other solutions once the kits run out but I am awaiting clearer guidance on these and of course I make sure they are stored way out of reach.
The monthly kits come in smaller boxes with the chemicals and parts needed for each experiment. Most kits come with 2 or 3 experiments each and are designed to keep teens busy at weekends.
They are all different and with different themes such as seasons, monsters, Christmas, colours etc.
The boxes all come with cover labels and these labels explain what is needed from the starter kit. Some of them may require the odd basic item that most people have in the home such as soap or salt etc but nothing more is needed.
The experiments all come with difficulty levels – easy, medium and hard, an approximate time each one should take and any dangers or hazards. Safety goggles are provided with the starter kit and gloves come with the monthly kits. Children obviously need parental supervision as they are dealing with real chemicals and hazardous substances. My main worry is having a 3 year old around whilst experiments are being done so I make sure Ryan does his in the kitchen and Izebella does not go in.
Ryan was really excited to receive 4 kits along with the starter kit. He was very eager to try some out straight away.
He has so far made some metallics and snow in a cup and a candle.
Some of the experiments even involve photography and are very simple. There is also an app for phones to assist with the kits.
Ryan knows he has to wear gloves and goggles, he reads the instructions carefully and ensures he tidies it all away once done. Some of the experiments require an open flame on the included stove. I have not allowed Ryan to do these just yet. I have visions of my house burning down but I’m thinking once the weather gets better it may be something to help him with outside. Plus I would need to be sure he could be trusted to work with the flame experiments properly.
These kits seem a great idea for teenagers. They are certainly keeping Ryan busy and it is perhaps something I would consider subscribing too in the future.
More information at Mel Science.
