Thames & Kosmos is arguably the top manufacturer of chemistry sets. Most of the sets on our list are made by Thames & Kosmos, including our top choice, the CHEM C3000. This is the ultimate set; it includes more experiments and supplies than any other set we reviewed. Additionally, the supplies in this kit are high quality enough to reuse in your home laboratory after you've completed the experiments in the kit.
Because the CHEM kits by Thames & Kosmos are all part of a series, each kit builds on the preceding one. In other words, the CHEM C3000 contains everything from the C2000 and the C1000, plus a whole tray of additional chemicals and supplies (and over 100 more experiments). For its extensive collection of experiments and quality equipment, the CHEM 3000 topped our list of the best chemistry sets.
The CHEM C3000 contains supplies and instructions for 387 different experiments, from the standbys (acids/bases, baking soda reactions, chemical identification, etc.) to more obscure experiments like building a mini fire extinguisher. The experiment list runs the gamut from mostly entertaining (with things like “magic tricks” and chromatography, or colored ink tests) to purely educational (with experiments on elemental properties and chemical identification).
The CHEM C3000 set is not a toy. The experiments in this kit can be dangerous and the procedure manual must be followed closely. Parental supervision and guidance are recommended with all experiments involving heat and chemicals.
The experiment list in the CHEM C3000 is intended to give an overview of many of the major chemistry principles that students learn in high school. Like a chemistry class, the manual for this set moves through from general lessons on topics like the nature of elements, the behavior of atoms and molecules and the proper procedures for scientific experimentation, into more advanced lessons demonstrating complex chemical properties like combustion, and finally into more real-world applications like understanding environmental forces and measuring water quality. While even a complete set like the CHEM C3000 cannot take the place of a standard science education, the hands-on experience of conducting experiments cements the lessons learned in the classroom and inspires students to want to learn more. Chemistry sets can be equally as useful for students who are struggling in science classes as they are for chemistry enthusiasts. That said, the C3000 kit is designed for more advanced users so if you are buying a kit for a beginner, you should choose one of the more basic sets like the CHEM C500.
The CHEM C3000 comes with a huge range of lab equipment, including items specifically designed for a particular experiment and items that can be used over and over as part of a home lab. The primary reason for the high price of this product is the quality of the equipment, which includes glass and metal supplies in addition to plastic parts. Once you’ve completed the experiments from this kit, you can use the equipment to conduct experiments from other kits or invent your own experiments based on what you’ve learned. For any chemistry-related science project, this kit can also provide the equipment you need.
For this section of our survey, we examined each set’s included chemicals. Because of the fact that there are millions of chemicals that could be included, we didn’t list each set’s chemicals individually. Rather, we considered it more important whether each set comes with the chemicals you’ll need to complete the experiments. In the case of the CHEM C3000, the experiment list is the most extensive of any set we reviewed. This kit contains ten more chemicals than the C2000, but both sets include some experiments that call for additional chemicals that aren’t included. Most of the chemicals you need will be included and the rest can be found at a grocery or hardware store, or a science supply store like Best Science Supplies. Even though this could be seen as a drawback of the kit, there are enough experiments included that you can send away for the missing chemicals and have plenty of experiments to keep you busy while you wait for your shipment.
All the sets on our survey come with an experiment procedure manual, which may or may not include detailed background information and explanations of each experiment. The CHEM C3000 is the most advanced kit on our survey, so the manual is written in a moderately advanced style. Kids who are ready for the C3000 should already be familiar with the scientific method and the rules of proper experimentation (although this information is included in the manual). The C3000 is better suited to students who have already demonstrated an affinity for science, not students who are struggling to pick up the basic principles.
The CHEM C3000 topped our list of the best chemistry sets for its sheer volume of experiments and its high quality equipment. Compared to the #2 set on our list, this set has more than a hundred additional experiments. The equipment includes glass and metal (not just plastic) so it is durable enough to last through repeated use. While it is not a set for beginners, the CHEM C3000 is definitely the best set on the market today.
Check out the rest of our lineup of the best chemistry sets, including the stepped-down CHEM C2000 and the beginners’ kit Mind Blowing Science.
