Festive Experiments

Festive Experiments in Chemistry Club - Years 9, 10 and 11

This week in Chemistry Club, students were treated to a number of amusing and festive experiments.

Firstly, students saw a Christmas tree magically appear and grow in a beaker through the wonders of chemistry! They observed beautiful silver crystals growing on a copper sheet shaped into a Christmas tree. This was due to a simple displacement reaction between silver nitrate and copper.

Students also had lots of fun in the lab as they learnt about a very flammable chemical present in the skin of oranges and lemons - limonene. They squeezed a little of the limonene out of orange peel towards a candle and observed an impressive jet of flame!

Before the candles were put away, students also learnt how candles work. After a candle is blown out, smoke rises from the extinguished wick and paraffin vapour rises from the hot pool of wax. This paraffin vapour is flammable, so when a flame source is held above the wick, the flame jumps down the vapour trail and the candle suddenly reignites! (but do take care!).

Chemistry Club takes place every Thursday lunchtime in S4 from 1.30pm and is open to all students in Years 9, 10 and 11, so do come along! 

Mrs Arain, Science