Best Chemistry Sets for Kids for Christmas 2010

Are you looking for some hot chemistry gifts for Christmas 2010? Some kids are naturally drawn to chemistry and others are terrified of the word alone. If we present chemistry as what it is, a combining of substances and matter and their reactions, and even better help kids explore some of the fun ways to use chemistry like cooking and creating perfumes, we can bring chemistry home and off of the Bunsen burner so to speak. Here are 5 hot chemistry gifts for 2010 that will appeal to chemistry lovers or sneak basic chemistry in through the window for those kids who think they'd rather shut the door on chemistry.

The Candy Factory

Kids can make their own candies including chocolates, caramels, gummies and hard candies using this fun kit. It's sweet yes but very educational too. The booklet describes the history of candy, the biology of taste, the chemistry of sugar and more.

The Candy Factory comes with 25 recipes and 48-page experiment manual, thermometer, spatula, molds, cutters other tools, lollipop sticks and candy wrappers. The Candy Factory is recommended for ages 10 and up and is available for Christmas 2010 for $30.99 from Mindware at (www.mindware.com).

Like this ideas but need a chemistry gift that is a little less expensive?

Make Your Own Chocolate Kits (or Gummies or Chewing Gum)

These "make your own" kits from Mindware at (www.mindware.com) are great hands on chemistry set choices for kids eight and up.

Each Make Your Own kit is $12.95 for Christmas 2010 and you can get all three kits for $34.95.

Perfume Science or Creative Cosmetics

Along the same lines of the candy making kits, there are also perfuming making kits and cosmetic creating kits that really appeal to tween-age girls. Both kits have won Parent's choice awards. Each kit is recommended for ages 10 and up and available for Christmas 2010 from Mindware at (www.mindware.com) for $59.99.

Like the idea of a perfume making kit but want one that's a little less expensive?

Perfumery Science Kit by Scientific Explorer

Kids ages 8 & up can have fun creating their own perfumes by doing real chemistry experiments and learning more about both the history and science of fragrances. Fragrance oils, pipettes, vials and easy instructions are included for making their own signature fragrances for themselves or as gifts for their girlfriends.

The Perfumery Science Kit is available from Amazon (www.amazon.com) for around $20.00 for Christmas 2010.

CHEM C500 Chemistry Experiment Set by Thames & Kosmos

This chemistry set for ages 8 & up is the real deal. A 32-page color illustrated book explains the steps for 30 science experiments. It includes safety goggles and test tubes and ingredients from citric acid to sodium carbonate. This chemistry set has everything a young chemist needs to conduct hands on science experiments.

The CHEM C500 Chemistry Set is available from Amazon at (www.amazon.com)

for around $30.00 for Christmas 2010 and it is a best all around chemistry for kids.

If the kids on your Christmas shopping list are interested in chemistry or else you'd like to give them a fun nudge into science, these hot chemistry gifts for 2010 will "combine" to make great "reactions."