The CHEM C500 is the fourth set from the top (in order of complexity) in the Thames & Kosmos CHEM series. It contains more than 30 experiments in seven major areas of chemistry. Whereas the C1000 and above are designed for kids who are already learning some chemistry in school, the CHEM C500 is appropriate for kids who are just getting started. For its no-nonsense approach to chemistry experiments, the C500 has earned a spot on our list of the best chemistry sets.
Like the Mind Blowing Science kit, the CHEM C500 is designed to introduce kids to the idea that there are scientific principles behind everything we see in our day-to-day lives. However, where the Mind Blowing Science kit is great for stirring scientific consciousness in young kids, the C500 is specifically designed to introduce kids to lab procedures that will be used in later science classes. Rather than using props to make the experiment results more impressive, this kit relies on kids to be impressed by chemical reactions mostly occurring in test tubes.
The experiments in the C500 include acid/base reactions, chromatography, chemistry “magic” tricks and other favorites from the higher level CHEM series chemistry sets. The experiments in this kit are no more complex than those of the Elements of Science kit, even though the C500 is designed for an older age group (8 to 12 as opposed to 4 to 8 for the Elements of Science kit), but the C500 uses a slightly more professional design and tone. The Elements of Science kit has more of a “wow” factor because it’s assumed that kids in the lower age bracket will have a shorter attention span.
The supply tray for the C500 looks meager at first, containing only a few items. However, we appreciate that the equipment in this kit is multi-use, unlike some of the specialized items in other beginner chemistry sets that are only used in one experiment. Besides chemicals, the C500 contains only very basic measuring and mixing equipment, a pair of safety glasses and a 9V battery connector (the battery is not included).
The C500 contains six different chemicals, each of which is used in multiple experiments. This set contains all the chemicals you need to complete the experiments, but you will need to provide your own 9V battery for the experiments on electricity and electromagnetism.
The CHEM C500 has a 32-page manual with procedures and explanations for all of the experiments. While the experiments are simple enough to be conducted independently by kids over eight, you should make sure your child reads the manual carefully before and during experimentation.
Doing the experiments and watching the results provides entertainment and some education, but the explanations in the manual are key to getting the most out of this kit.
The CHEM C500 is a good choice for a basic, beginner set. While this kit doesn’t offer the extensive line of experiments contained in more advanced kits like the C2000 or C3000, the C500 is a good choice for a kid who likes science but has never done science experiments at home before. If you’re buying a beginner kit for a very young child, the Mind Blowing Science kit offers a kid-friendly presentation that feels more like a toy. But for kids who enjoy lab activities and want a more serious starter set, the C500 is appropriate.
This kit is moderately priced enough to be a good first step, gauging your child’s interest to see if he/she would even be interested in more complicated sets like the C3000. If your child rushes through the experiments in the CHEM C500 and is eager for more, we suggest moving on to the CHEM C1000 or CHEM C2000, either of which can be converted to the C3000 with an upgrade kit later on.
