Science fair projects with candy and sugar

What to expect

The hard candy project asks which liquid dissolves a candy fastest. Hard candy is mostly sugar, though, so the sugar projects answer the same kind of question a candy project would. Does sugar dissolve faster in warm water? Does stirring help? Which grows crystals faster, salt or sugar? Sugar crystals grown on a string are the same idea as rock candy, which is how a crystal project turns into a candy one. Every one changes one thing, measures one thing and does it three times.

Candy projects are sticky, so put a tray or a towel down first. Keep the tested candy away from little brothers and sisters: round hard candies are small enough for a toddler to choke on, which is why the safety strip says small parts. Nothing that's been tested is for eating. Where a project needs hot water, a grown-up pours it. The honey and the corn syrup are in the density tower, where the heaviest liquids sink to the bottom; it's a good one for 4th grade and up, because it uses a kitchen scale.

Counted from the projects on this page: 7 about water, ice and mixing; 7 using kitchen things. 5 are free with what most houses have, and the rest cost about $2. Testing takes from 1 to 5 days. 1 has a step a grown-up does, marked on the page.