Posted: Wednesday 22 June 2011
Chemistry Camp 2011
Two F3 pupils were recently selected to take part in the Salters' Chemistry Camp at St Andrews University. Andrew Kelly and Nassim Branine spent three days staying in the University Halls of Residence and experiencing practical chemistry in the University laboratories. Camp report by Andrew Kelly (pictured).
We arrived on the Wednesday at lunchtime, quite unsure what to expect but excited nonetheless. After a short while of getting to know everybody in our group, we went to the lab to learn about Complex Chemistry – the name doesn’t refer to how hard it is!!! – and how to make different coloured solutions. The theory involved built on what we had already covered in class and was really interesting.
After the evening meal, we all went to the Megabowl in Dundee, where we (surprise, surprise) had a game of bowling!! On Day 2, we had 2 sessions in the lab. The first one involved making paracetamol and learning how important a role chemistry plays in medicine. In the afternoon, we learned about chemiluminescence – cold light. It was really interesting and we got to practise a really important technique – titration – in the dark!! This was so we could see when the endpoint of the reaction was reached and certainly improved our accuracy and ability with the equipment.
On the third (and, sadly, last) day, we had a shorter lab session where we looked at what chemical reactions actually are, through looking at the Landtner clock reaction and the Briggs Rauscher oscillating reaction. The Iodine clock turned blue after several seconds and to end the day we had to create a clock that ticked after 15 seconds, then 30 seconds, then 45 seconds and finally after 1 minute. The Oscillating Reaction changed colour from Dark Blue-Black to Medium blue to Amber and then repeated almost indefinitely.
On the second evening, there was a lecture from the university host, where we saw some chemistry experiments that were somewhat too dangerous for us to carry out. We learned about the less well-known effects of global warming as well, and how scientists are helping to reduce these effects.
The course was a brilliant opportunity and I absolutely loved every minute of it!!