Periodic Videos – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Periodic Videos

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

YouTube2008

85%

WISE Score

1.6M

Subscribers

A chemist with wild hair makes every element on the periodic table actually interesting—who knew sodium could be this fun?

Periodic Videos

YouTube

2008

85%

WISE Score

1.6M

Subscribers

A chemist with wild hair makes every element on the periodic table actually interesting—who knew sodium could be this fun?

Jump to

Also rated on

1.6M

Screenwise Verdict

This is YouTube at its absolute best: smart, passionate educators sharing knowledge without gimmicks or manipulation. Professor Poliakoff and his team have been making chemistry accessible and genuinely interesting since 2008, and it shows in the quality and consistency of the content.

The channel won't turn every kid into a chemist, but it will make the periodic table feel less like a wall of random letters and more like a map of the world's building blocks. The experiments are memorable, the explanations are clear, and the tone is warm and encouraging.

That said, it's still YouTube, which means you're one autoplay away from unboxing videos or worse. Use it intentionally—bookmark specific playlists, watch together, or assign it as a follow-up to school lessons. It's not going to compete with MrBeast for attention, but for a kid who likes science (or needs to like science for next week's test), this is gold.

Age Fit

Best for ages 8–16, especially kids studying chemistry or with a natural curiosity about how things work. Younger kids (6–7) can enjoy it with a parent to explain concepts, while older teens and adults will appreciate the depth and real-world connections. Not flashy enough to compete with typical YouTube fare, so it works best for kids who already have some interest in science.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Hosted primarily by Professor Martyn Poliakoff—a genuinely enthusiastic chemist with wild hair who radiates curiosity and kindness. The tone is warm, accessible, and collaborative, with no snark or mean-spirited humor. The pacing is calm and deliberate (2–5 minute episodes), making it easy for kids to absorb without feeling overstimulated. The channel models scientific curiosity, careful experimentation, and respect for the natural world.

Imaginative

Each element becomes a mini-story: why neon glows, how rhenium is used in jet engines, what happens when you drop sodium in water. The channel invites kids to see the periodic table not as a boring chart but as a map of real substances with surprising properties. While the format is educational rather than fantastical, it sparks genuine curiosity and encourages kids to ask 'what if?' questions about the world around them. The visual experiments (colorful reactions, explosions, glowing gases) are memorable and inspire hands-on exploration.

Safe

No mature content, violence, or inappropriate language. The experiments occasionally involve fire, explosions, or toxic substances, but they're always conducted by trained chemists in a lab setting with clear safety protocols—kids understand this is not something to replicate at home without supervision. Comments are enabled (1.6M subscribers, active community), which means there's some risk of inappropriate user comments, but the channel itself is squeaky clean. No ads or monetization concerns beyond standard YouTube. The main caution is that YouTube's autoplay can lead kids down rabbit holes, but that's a platform issue, not a channel issue.

Enriching

This is pure STEM enrichment. Kids learn real chemistry—atomic numbers, electron configurations, real-world applications—in bite-sized, memorable chunks. The channel ties abstract concepts to tangible objects (your phone screen uses indium, your bones contain calcium phosphate) and makes science feel relevant. It's perfect for supplementing school curricula, satisfying curiosity, and building scientific literacy. The fact that it's been running since 2008 with 740+ videos and nearly 300 million views speaks to its staying power and educational value. It's not just entertaining; it's genuinely skill-building and knowledge-expanding.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Professor Poliakoff is the science teacher everyone wishes they had—genuinely excited about chemistry and able to explain complex concepts in 3 minutes
Turns the periodic table from a boring wall chart into a collection of 118 mini-adventures with real-world applications
Perfect for supplementing school science lessons or satisfying a curious kid's 'but why?' questions about everyday materials
Long-running (since 2008) with 740+ videos means there's always something new to explore, from elements to molecules to science news
The experiments are visually memorable (explosions, color changes, glowing gases) without being sensationalized or dangerous

⚠

What to Watch For

Some experiments involve fire, explosions, or toxic chemicals—always in a controlled lab, but might worry younger or anxious kids
It's educational YouTube, which means it's still YouTube—comments are on, autoplay can lead to other channels, and screen time can spiral
The format is straightforward and calm, which is great for learning but might not hold the attention of kids expecting flashy entertainment
Best as a supplement to school or for kids who already like science—it's not going to convert a reluctant learner on its own

Conversation Starters

"Which element do you think is the coolest? Why?"
"Professor Poliakoff said [element] is used in [thing]—can you find other things in our house that might use it?"
"If you could discover a new element, what would you name it and what would it do?"
"Why do you think some elements are really common and others are super rare?"
"What's one experiment from the video you'd want to try (safely, with supervision)?"