Oundle School Chemistry Department took a Roadshow of ‘The Chemistry of Colour, Smell and Taste’ to Oundle Market Place on Sunday 17 September.
This was the first event of its kind for the department which saw nearly seventy children and their families visit throughout the two hour session.
Participating children discovered why beetroot tastes better with lemons, what ammonium sulphide smells off (rotten eggs – it’s used in stink bombs) and why some perfumes contain the same molecule that is in faeces! There were also some colourful demonstrations involving dry ice (solid carbon dioxide).
Jonathan Peverley, Head of Chemistry at Oundle School, commented, “The idea came to me very early one morning whilst I was sitting up with my two year old who couldn’t sleep. I had just read an article from the Royal Society of Chemistry about br
inging the ‘Chemistry of Smell’ to the classroom and I thought why not take it out to the public instead? I am delighted that the event was such a success and I now plan to look at ways to build upon the idea, perhaps taking it out to local schools.”
It was especially wonderful to have three of our Third Form pupils Amelie Holtby (13), Joseph White (13) and Thomas Caskey (13) helping. I firmly believe that giving the pupils a leading role helps them develop as individuals as well as good scientists.”
Lana, a Year Six pupil from Laxton Junior School commented, “It was really cool. I particularly liked the amazing red, white and blue colour change experiment, and the way the dry ice was ‘boiling over’ and changing the colour of the indicator water.”
Sebastian, a pupil from Oundle Primary School commented, “It was fascinating to learn that when you mix different chemicals, it creates new colours, smells and sometimes bubbles and steam. The test to see if I was a ‘super taster’ was good fun. In three words? It was interesting, pungent and explosive!”
Anyone interested in booking a school visit should contact Gordon Montgomery at Oundle School – rgm@oundleschool.org.uk