Halloween is the perfect time for some candy science experiments!
And what better candy to experiment on than candy corn–it’s everywhere in October! We conducted three candy corn science experiments using things we already had in the kitchen.
Candy Corn Science Experiments
- bag of candy corn
- 3 jars or glasses
- water
- microwave
- freezer
- CANDY CORN SCIENCE LAB printable
We started by experimenting to see if candy corn would dissolve in water. The kids predicting what they thought would happen on the free candy corn science lab printable.
Download your free printable here–>> CANDY CORN SCIENCE LAB
We dropped some candy corn into the bottom of a jar of water and observed what happened. The candy corn began to crack and the water changed color as the candy corn started to dissolve. Then the white part floated to the top and stayed there which was both cool and creepy.
Then it was time to see what heat would do! We stuck 5 or 6 candy corns into a glass and stuck them in the microwave for 45 seconds. The kids loved to see the candy corns puff up and bubble and turn into a dark orange liquid.
They also noted how strong the candy corn scent was after we took the jar out of the microwave.
Then we some in the freezer. The change wasn’t as dramatic as with the water and heat, but the kids noticed that when the frozen candy corn moved around in the jar it made a different sound than the non-frozen candy did.
Candy corn science is pretty cool!
For more fun ways to experiment with candy try our M&M Experiment, Skittles Science Experiment and Conversation Hearts Science!
Hi Megan,
You seem like a fun mom. Your kids are blessed.
Two questions:
1) Do you know what constitutes the creepy stuff that floats to top of water?
2) Do you have a hypothesis for why frozen candy makes different sound?
Hi Charley!
It looks like the stuff floating at the top is the coating on the candy corn. It seems to be made of less sugar than the other part so didn’t dissolve as fast. 🙂
Should I use warm or cold water?
Either will work! The warmer the water is the quicker it will dissolve. 🙂
I will try this for my science project coming up!!!
When you put the candy corn in the microwave, did you add water to the jar?
Nope! Just candy!
thanks!
Cute idea, very creative! 🙂
Thanks Rachel!
This is so cool. The kids are going to love this, and I cannot wait to try it. Thank you so much for sharing. You are very creative and I also believe in hands on learning.
For how simple it is it really has some cool results! Have fun!
Looking forward to sharing this experiment with the students in my Champions Before and Afterschool Program
Yay Shirl!!!! They will love it!
Some of the things the kids wrote were, “The candy will change color. It will turn into a liquid.” Hope that helps!
This seems like a really fun idea, thank you for sharing it! How long did you leave the candy corn in the water and freezer?
Close to an hour for the freezer, although less time would probably work too! You can start to see it dissolve in the water right away, and the whole process is done in under an hour too! 🙂