Kickstart Science - Chemistry
At the School of Chemistry we aim to inspire students and to let them explore the exciting side of Chemistry. We have wonderful staff that can help with all the experiments and allow students to see demonstrations using analytical equipment. The students will also be doing many hands on experiments using analytical instruments and chemicals not readily available to high schools.
In our two hour workshops the students are able to perform many experiments that are both time consuming in the school environment and sometimes not possible due to the chemicals and equipment involved. The experiments are set up for ready use and supervised by qualified and experienced university staff. The staff explain and demonstrate clearly each experiment in order for the students to competently perform the experiments at their own pace.
The School of Chemistry has all types of scientific equipment that can be demonstrated to students. These include atomic absorption spectrometers, gas chromatographs, infrared spectrometers, mass spectrometers, as well as all types of glassware and chemicals for any type of experiment.
Please click the headings to see the content for each module.
You can register for Chemical Monitoring and Management alone, or you can combine it with one of the optional topics below.
Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy:
- To demonstrate the analysis of the iron content in water. This instrument may be used for the highly sensitive analysis of very low concentrations of metals in water.
Infrared Spectroscopy of Car Exhaust fume:
- Car exhaust fumes are collected and then analysed using infrared spectroscopy this shows the presence of carbon monoxide and other pollutants and can be used to efficiently determine the cars performance and the amount of pollution being emitted to the atmosphere, a very important analysis technique.
Sulfate Content Determination in Fertiliser:
- This experiment is a hands-on practical where the students are able to experience first-hand the use of a gravimetric technique for the analysis if sulphate in lawn food and to experience the limitations of an analysis of this type. They will be using vacuum equipment and sintered glass filters that are not readily available.
Determining the Iron Content in Natural Waters:
- This experiment again is hands-on and shows another type of analysis of metals present in water using a scanning absorption spectrometer. This experiment also demonstrates the use of chemicals to first create a coloured chemical complex to enable this technique to be used.
Determination of Hardness in Natural Waters:
- This is a hands-on practical experiment and helps the students to master the very important chemical analysis technique of titration.
Determining the Chlorine Content in Natural Waters:
- The analysis of chlorine in water is a very important experiment. This hands-on practical uses a titration but this time of a very different sort to analyse chlorine in water using chemicals not readily available to high schools.
- This experiment uses gas chromatography to demonstrate the analysis of the alcohol content in wine. This equipment may also be used for the analysis of a huge range of substances including vitamins, fragrances and flavours and many more. It is also an important technique used in forensic analysis.
Dotpoints addressed from the Chemistry Stage 6 Syllabus Core – Chemical Monitoring and Management:
1, 3 and 5. These experiments combined give excellent exposure to all types of analysis techniques and methods and teach the students the finer details of why and how the experiments are carried out.
The Reaction of copper and concentrated nitric acid:
- This experiment is used to not only show the reaction of a concentrated acid with a metal but also to illustrate equilibrium using the resultant gases and varying temperature changes.
- This principle is demonstrated by invoking a colour change inside a sealed tube containing NO2/N2O4 (from the previous reaction).
The Solvay Process:
- This experiment involves the reaction of aqueous sodium chloride with ammonia gas and solid carbon dioxide to produce solid sodium hydrogen carbonate this decomposes to sodium carbonate.
- This has a number of experiments to illustrate the reactions of this important acid – for example with metals and carbohydrates.
The Production of Sodium Hydroxide – Chloralkali Process:
- This experiment is used to illustrate the industrial process involving the electrolysis of brine (sodium chloride solution) to produce sodium hydroxide.
- Clock reactions involving the mixing of two clear and colourless solutions that undergo a period of reaction and then turn dark blue, very entertaining.
- A simple hydrolysis reaction is used to illustrate the industrial production of a soap.
Dotpoints addressed from the Chemistry Stage 6 Syllabus Option – Industrial Chemistry
2, 3, 4, 5, 8
- Oxidation- reduction reactions
- Activity of various metals to an acidic environment
- Electrolysis to illustrate the reaction half reactions of an oxidation reduction reaction
Dotpoints addressed from the Chemistry Stage 6 Syllabus Option – Shipwrecks, Corrosion and Salvation
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
- Here we demonstrate the technique of gel electrophoresis to analysis both DNA and dye samples.
Fingerprinting and more...
- Various techniques using luminal, iodine and ninhydrin are used to perform an analysis of the presence of fingerprints and blood samples
- This vital analysis technique is demonstrated by analysing vitamins, perfumes and wine for alcohol content.
- A series of experiments and techniques is used here to show how the evidence of poisoning can be assessed.
Infrared Spectroscopy of Car Exhaust Fumes:
- This vital analysis tool is used here to analyse car exhaust fumes – both quantitatively and qualitatively.
Dotpoints addressed from the Chemistry Stage 6 Syllabus Option – Forensic Chemistry
3, 4, 5, 6
Frequently asked questions
|Dates and times available||Workshops are available throughout the year. Please visit our booking portal to view available dates and make a booking.|
|Duration||Workshops run for 2 hours.|
|Class size||Chemistry requires a minimum class size of 15 students. If your class size is smaller than this, please contact email@example.com and we can schedule you with an existing booking.|
|Program fees||$29.70/student (inc. GST)|
|Bookings||To make a booking, simply visit our booking portal.|
|Confirmation||Once your booking has been finalised, an email confirming dates/venues will be issued to you.|
|Terms and conditions||Please ensure you have read, understand and agree to the Terms and Conditions of your booking.|
Can I combine different modules in one session?
Yes. The core module, Chemical Monitoring and Management, can be combined with any of the experiments in the Industrial Chemistry, Shipwrecks, Corrosion and Salvation or Forensic Chemistry optional topics in one two hour session.
Do I need to provide worksheets?
No, all workshop materials will be provided. Please have your students bring a pen.
Do my students need to wear school uniform?
Preferable but not essential. Students must wear closed in shoes and long hair be tied back.
Can I park on Campus?
No bus parking is available on campus. See the Driving and Parking section of the University website for more information.
Can we get public transport to Kickstart?
Most school groups come on the train - it's a 30 minute walk from Redfern Station. Also many buses pass the University along Parramatta Rd or City Rd. From the Parramatta Rd bus stop it is a 5 minute walk. See the Public Transport section of the University website for more information.