An introductory workshop on chemical reactivity. The aim is to promote scientific culture and knowledge, especially among children, through practical examples from everyday life.
Main Event ERN UA -2022- Workshop “Those Crazy (and useful) Polymers – Create the Rainbow using Indicators”
30/09/2022
An introductory workshop on chemical reactivity. The aim is to promote scientific culture and knowledge, especially among children, through practical examples from everyday life.
In the first part of the workshop, the teacher will explain the acid-base properties of chemical substances and the fact that chemical indicators help us detect changes in the acidity or basicity of solutions, emphasising that many common substances have these properties. In the second part, polymers will be prepared; for example, slime made from substances we can find at home (wood glue, contact lens solution and bicarbonate of soda). Nylon will be made from a solution of hexamethylenediamine and adipoyl chloride in cyclohexane; attendees will learn about the everyday applications of this polymer. Finally, artificial snow will be made using disposable nappy inserts and food colourants; the teacher will explain the properties of sodium polyacrylate, which make it a suitable absorbent.
Coordinated by: Rafael Chinchilla Cruz, Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Alicante
Date and time: 30/09/2022 6-10 p.m.
Place: University of Alicante – San Vicente del Raspeig Campus
