SCROLL DOWN TO READ THE POST
It’s explosive: Brit’s Biggest Bangs
No mess. No danger. No smelly fumes.
BBC Brit’s Biggest Bangs is a fun, interactive video experience that allows users to channel their inner mad scientists, mixing dangerous chemicals with sometimes explosive results without a proper laboratory.
The secret behind the interactivity is a central choose-your-own-adventure video around which annotations lead to separate videos that respond to your chemical selections.
Choose your first chemical and then select another from among eight on the laboratory table. You’ll see the team scientist take each chemical from the table. Then pause to consider–will it explode or won’t it?
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
If it doesn’t, the oh so serious, oh so British narrator offers background on why the bang, or the lack of bang (NR or no reaction) may have disappointed, as well as what the resulting compound is and does. I love watching him get all excited when an explosion does occur.

Biggest Bangs suggests a few favourite reactions for budding chemists:
https://youtu.be/o0hKhQW9kIg
https://youtu.be/-6XnBzOWar8
https://youtu.be/Z4RZmNdjiJw
I can see kids playing at home, or together remotely competing for the biggest reactions.
I see chemistry teachers using this at the beginning or end of class for a bit of informed, predictive fun.
Filed under: chemistry, science, technology
About Joyce Valenza
Joyce is an Assistant Professor of Teaching at Rutgers University School of Information and Communication, a technology writer, speaker, blogger and learner. Follow her on Twitter: @joycevalenza
ADVERTISEMENT
SLJ Blog Network
How to Do Just About Everything in 2025
Good Golden Sun: A Conversation with Brendan Wenzel
MegaGhost Vol. 1 | Review
Goodbye for now
The Necessity for Marginalized Stories Today and Always, a guest post by Wahab Algarmi
The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT