Photo: Deutsches Museum | Christian Illing
Natural Sciences
Chemistry – Transformation, experimentation and application
From alchemy to modern everyday life: explore the science of substances. Discover which elements play a role in our everyday lives and enjoy spectacular demonstrations!
The Chemistry exhibition is divided into three main sections and contains many interactive elements. The historical laboratories are walk-in dioramas that invite visitors on a journey through time from alchemy in the Middle Ages to Justus von Liebig in the 19th century. The experimental area includes hands-on exhibits, a laboratory section and a lecture hall. The large exhibition hall is divided into thematic areas that reveal the chemistry behind everyday activities, from cooking and construction to sport and leisure. And the huge, interactive periodic table helps visitors to understand this fascinating elementary natural science in more detail.
Photo: Deutsches Museum | Reinhard Krause
Chemistry - what is it actually?
From the morning shower to the evening meal and even when we simply breathe: chemicals are everywhere with us. The shampoo, the salt in the soup, the air - basically, we ourselves are made up of chemical substances. The more we know about these substances, their structure, their properties and their transformation, the better we understand life itself. This applies on both a small and large scale, as chemistry is also the foundation for almost all processes and value chains in our industry. Without chemistry, the challenges of the present and future, such as the energy transition, digitalization and combating the pandemic, cannot be overcome. What is a blessing on the one hand can also be a curse on the other: Plastic waste in the environment or over-fertilization are examples of this.
Highlights of the new exhibition
Das Periodensystem der Elemente. Photo: Deutsches Museum | Christian Illing
The periodic table of the elements
In the new chemistry exhibition, we show you the periodic table as you have never seen it before: You can see almost every chemical element in its pure form in cubes. In a spacious exhibition area, you can also see exciting information about atomic structure and what this has to do with the periodic table.
Der Kernspaltungstisch aus der Vogelperspektive: Hier gelang der erste Nachweis der Kernspaltung. Photo: Deutsches Museum | Christian Illing
The nuclear fission table
Groundbreaking discoveries sometimes begin with unexpected observations: When Otto Hahn, Lise Meitner and Fritz Straßmann carried out experiments with uranium salts in 1938, they expected to create heavier atoms. Instead, they found a much lighter element. The uranium nuclei were split, an unthinkable reaction of the atomic nucleus at the time. The original instruments of the discovery can be found in the chemistry exhibition.
[Translate to English:] Vorführungszeiten werden im Tagesproramm auf der Webseite bekanntgegeben. Photo: Deutsches Museum | Hubert Czech
Chemistry lecture hall
Spectacular chemistry demonstrations on changing topics take place several times a day in the large lecture hall in the exhibition. At our demonstration “Through the year with chemistry”, you can take part in various experiments live!
“For me, the nuclear fission table is a special exhibit - it is an exciting way to explain how science changes the world.”
When will this event take place?
Discover which activities are taking place by checking our daily programme, which is published at around 9.20 each day. Our programme changes daily and includes guided tours, demonstrations, science shows and hands-on activities for individual visitors and small groups of up to five people. All programme events are held in German. They begin either directly where the activity is set to take place or at a guided-tour meeting point in the relevant exhibition.
Accompanying material and publications
Photo: Deutsches Museum | Hubert Czech
Tackle the elements
Oh, it looks like something from another time. The life-size replica laboratories invite you to discover the workplaces of historical chemistry. The path along the laboratories leads to exciting modern everyday chemistry. Because chemistry doesn't just happen in a laboratory, it surrounds us every day.
Inside the Chemistry Exhibition
Facts and Figures
- Location: Level 1
- Exhibition space: 1200 m2
- Exhibits and models: approx. 200
- Demonstrations and interactives: approx. 90
- Dioramas: 2
- Media stations: 29
We thank...
... the “Chemistry in Dialogue” initiative for its generous support in redesigning the Chemistry exhibition.
You have specialist questions for our curator?
![Susanne Rehn-Taube]()
Dr. Susanne Rehn-Taube
Curator
Museumsinsel 1
80306 MunichTelephone +49 89 2179 458
Fax +49 89 2179 99350
Email s.rehn-taube@deutsches-museum.de
Do you have organizational questions?
Cornelia Schubert
Assistance to department heads, main department heads and curators
Susanne Schmölz
Assistance to department heads, main department heads and curators
