The boy chemist

It may suit a child who enjoys making, observing and explaining chemical changes with an attentive adult. The book also offers opportunities to discuss careful measurement, reaction equations and why older scientific practices may need reconsideration.

Treat the experiments as reading material unless a qualified adult has checked each activity against current safety guidance. Particular attention is warranted around corrosive acids and bases, toxic gases, flammable liquids, reactive metals, heat, pressure and explosions.

Which instructions appear to depend on equipment or precautions that would no longer be accepted? How does the book distinguish an interesting reaction from an experiment whose consequences could harm people, property or the environment?

Read selected sections together rather than attempting activities directly. First identify the scientific idea, then check every material, apparatus and disposal step using modern professional guidance with an attentive, responsible adult; keep hazardous substances and experiments out of unsupervised access.