Science Fun: Magic X-Rays

This is a really cool and fun activity. Use it in conjunction with a study on bones, medicine, first aid, etc. This does need close, adult supervision because of the bleach involved. You will also want to do this activity either outside or on an area covered with plastic so that the bleach doesn’t ruin clothing or furniture.

Materials:

bleach
cotton swabs
black construction paper

Directions:

1. Make sure that you protect whatever surface you will be working on with an old plastic tablecloth or shower curtain.

2. Dip a cotton swab (or Q-tip) into the bleach.

3. Use the cotton swab to draw an x-ray of a body part, or an entire skeleton, on a piece of black construction paper.

4. Depending on the paper, it may take several minutes for your “x-ray” to appear. The bleach fades the black pigment in the paper.

You may want to compare your x-ray to a real one. It may be possible to view an actual x-ray by talking to a dentist or a radiologist, taking a field trip to a doctor’s office, etc.

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