Chemical

Formula

Source/Description

acetic acid

CH3COOH

Vinegars vary between 4-5.5% acetic acid;  more concentrated acetic acid (28%) may be purchased at photography supply stores.

acetone

CH3COCH3

Nail polish remover is generally acetone ; fiberglass cleaner is also generally made of acetone and is available at boating supply stores.

aluminum

Al

Aluminum foil; aluminum turnings are available as scrap from machine shops.

potassium aluminum sulfate

KAl(SO4)212H2O

Alum is available at most drug stores.  It is used as an astringent to shrink mucus membranes.

ammonia

NH3(aq); NH4OH

Household ammonia (ammonium hydroxide) is an aqueous solution of ammonia.  Note:  this often has additives.

ammonium nitrate

NH4NO3

Nitrate of ammonia fertilizer is available at most garden supply stores.

amylose

(C6H9O5)n

Corn starch is available at most markets and is used extensively in cooking.

anthocyanin

Anthocyanin solution can be prepared by cutting, boiling and filtering red cabbage.

ascorbic acid

C6H8O6

Vitamin C tablets sold at the market are primarily ascorbic acid.

bromthymol blue

C27H28Br2O5S

Aquarium pH test kits often employ bromthymol blue because it changes color in the 6.0-7.6 range.

butane

C4H10

The lighter fluid in hand-held fire starters or cigarette lighters is usually liquid butane.

calcium carbonate

CaCO3

Chalk, limestone and marble chips are good sources of solid calcium carbonate; some antacids are largely calcium carbonate.

calcium chloride

CaCl2

Much of the road salt (de-icer) used to de-ice roads in cold climates is calcium chloride.

calcium hydroxide

Ca(OH)2

Some antacids are primarily calcium hydroxide; slaked lime is calcium hydroxide and is used in lime-softening water treatment  and in plastering. 

calcium hypochlorite

Ca(ClO)2

Bleaching powder  and some swimming pool disinfectants contain calcium hypochlorite. Available from cleaning or swimming pool supply companies.

calcium oxide

CaO

In the past quicklime was a material plasterers used in making plaster. It is now difficult to obtain from hardware stores.

carbon

C

Charcoal used in cooking, activated charcoal used in fish tank filters and graphite used in pencil leads are good sources of carbon.

carbon dioxide

CO2

Dry ice is available from party stores, refrigeration supply companies and ice cream companies.

carbonic acid

H2CO3

Soda water is simply carbonated water, a dilute solution of carbonic acid.

copper

Cu

Electrical wire, copper pipe, and copper sheeting are available at hardware stores; American pennies (minted 1944-1946, 1962-1982) are 95% copper and 5% zinc.

copper sulfate pentahydrate

CuSO45H2O

Basicop or Bluestone algaecide used to kill algae and other aquatic pests contain copper sulfate.

ethylene glycol

CH2OHCH2OH

Some engine antifreezes are primarily ethylene glycol.

glucose

C6H12O6

Dextrose (glucose) is available in many drug stores; some specialty throat lozenges are dextrose.

glycerol

C3H8O3

Glycerin is an emollient used to soften skin by delaying the evaporation of water.  It is available at most drug stores.

gold

Au

Gold jewelry is generally not pure gold.  Gold is generally alloyed with other metals to increase strength.

helium

He

Helium can be obtained from party stores or wherever helium balloons are available.

hydrochloric acid

HCl

Muriatic acid (the common name for HCl) is used in swimming pool maintenance.  It is also sold as masonry cleaner and is available at the hardware store.  Percentage concentrations vary.

hydrogen peroxide

H2O2

Hydrogen peroxide antiseptic (3%) is available from the drug store.  Clairoxide hair bleach by Clairol is much more concentrated and is available from beauty supply stores.

iodine

I2

Tincture of iodine, a topical antiseptic used for treating wounds, is a solution of iodine dissolved in ethyl alcohol. It is available at most drug stores.

iron

Fe

Steel wool, iron nails, iron bolts, nuts, screws are good sources of iron. You can get iron filings by dragging a strong magnet through sand.

ferric oxide

Fe2O3

Ceramic rust is used to add a red color to pottery and can be purchased at ceramic stores.

kerosene

CnH2n+1 (n=12-16)

Lamp oil or kerosene is sold in the paint departments of most hardware stores.

lead

Pb

Lead shot and lead sinkers are used by fishermen and are available at sporting goods stores.

magnesium hydroxide

Mg(OH)2

Milk of Magnesia is an antacid used to settle sour (acidic) stomachs.  Some antacid tablets also contain magnesium hydroxide.

magnesium silicate

Mg3Si4O10(OH)2

Talcum powder comes from talc, the softest of all minerals, and is used as a dusting powder for babies.  It is available in the bodycare section of the drug store.

magnesium sulfate

MgSO47H2O

Epsom salt is sold at most drug stores and is used as a laxative or as an anti-inflammatory soak.

methanol

CH3OH

Methanol is sold as a solvent in paint supply stores under the names "wood alcohol" or "methyl alcohol."

methylene blue

C16H18ClN3S

Methylene blue  (Methidote antiseptic) is used to treat small injured fish and is available at pet stores.

mineral oil

complex mixture of hydrocarbons

Mineral oil is sold in drug stores as an emollient.  Some baby oils are essentially mineral oil and fragrance.

nickel

Ni

Pre-1985 Canadian nickels are made of nickel.  Note: American "nickels" are composed of 25% nickel  and 75% copper.

oxygen

O2

Portable welding oxygen tanks are available at welding shops and some hardware stores.

paraffin

CnH2n+2 (n>19)

Candle wax is made of paraffin.  Some grocery stores sell paraffin as a sealant for home canning.

phenolphthalein

C20H14O4

Ex-Lax laxative contained phenolphthalein prior to 1997.  In that year it was determined phenolphthalein might cause cancer, and the thus the ingredients were changed.

phosphoric acid

H3PO4

Some pH reducers (available at pet stores) used in fish tanks are simply dilute solutions of phosphoric acid.

potassium bitartrate

KHC4H4O6

Cream of tartar is available at the market and is used to stabilize delicate foods like meringue toppings and other baked egg-white products.

potassium carbonate

K2CO3

Some agricultural supply companies sell potash to farmers who need to increase the potassium content in their soils.

potassium bromide

KBr

Potassium bromide may be purchased from photography stores where it is used in photographic development.

potassium chloride

KCl

Lite Salt is used as a salt substitute by people who must limit their sodium intake, and is available at most markets.

potassium iron (ii) hexacyanoferrate(iii)

KFe[Fe(CN)6]

Mrs. Stewart's liquid laundry bluing is used to whiten clothes and may be found in the detergents section of the market.

potassium nitrate

KNO3

Saltpeter or quick salt is used to cure home made sausages and corned beef and may be available at some butcher shops.

potassium permanganate

KMnO4

Clearwater is a solution of approximately 50% potassium permanganate and is used to remove odors and cloudiness from water to be used in aquariums.

propane

C3H8

Gas barbecue fuel is generally made of propane and is available at many gasoline stations or picnic supply stores.

2-propanol

CH3CHOHCH3

Rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) is a  concentrated solution (generally 70%) of 2-propanol and may be found in most drug stores.

silicon dioxide

SiO2

Quartz sand is relatively pure silicon dioxide and is available at most building supply stores.

silver

Ag

Older non-clad American dimes, quarters, half dollars and silver dollars are 90% silver and 10% copper.

sodium acetate

NaC2H3O2

Re-Heater and other hand-warmers are available at sporting goods stores.

sodium bicarbonate

NaHCO3

Baking soda is pure sodium bicarbonate and may be found in the baking section of the market.

sodium carbonate

Na2CO3

Washing soda is used to treat wool fibers and is available at spinning, weaving, and art supply stores.

sodium chloride

NaCl

The table salt used in cooking is sodium chloride. Iodized salt contains a trace of sodium iodide.

sodium hydroxide

NaOH

Known also as caustic soda and lye, sodium hydroxide is used in many commercial drain cleaners.

sodium hypochlorite

NaClO

Household bleach is generally a 5% solution of sodium hypochlorite.

sodium phosphate

Na3PO4

Tri-sodium phosphate, commonly known as TSP, is available at hardware stores and is used to clean walls prior to painting.

sodium tetraborate decahydrate

Na2B4O710H2O

Borax , such as Twenty Mule Team Borax Laundry Booster  is sodium tetraborate decahydrate.

sodium thiosulfate

Na2S2O3

Photographer's hypo is used in photograph development and is available at photography supply stores.

sucrose

C12H22O11

Table sugar is available at grocery stores in large or small bags.

sulfur

S

Flowers of sulfur is sold at some garden stores to treat certain plant diseases.

sulfuric acid

H2SO4

Battery acid, also known as oil of vitriol, is sulfuric acid and may be obtained at some auto supply stores.

tungsten

W

The filament in incandescent light bulbs is made of tungsten.

zinc

Zn

Recent American pennies (1982-present)  are 97.5% zinc with a 2.5% copper coating.