2011 has been named “International Year of Chemistry” (IYC) by the United Nations Education, Science and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). One of the initiatives being undertaken during this year is the Global Chemistry Experiment being coordinated by IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry).
Water – A Chemical Solution
The theme of IYC is “Chemistry – Our Life Our Future” and, interacting with the International Decade for Action “Water for Life” 2005-2015, the IUPAC proposed that the Global Chemistry Experiment should be focused on the context of water. The title of the experiment is “Water: A Chemical Solution” and is focused on the collection of water data from around the world, which will highlight the role of water as a universal solvent and its role in society and the environment.
The experiment has been divided into four activities which can be accessed by students of all ages and levels, and the general public, across the world. While providing students with an appreciation of chemical investigation and data collection and validation, the activities are adaptable to the skills and interests of all students and can be done using equipment that is readily available at little or no cost.
The four activities are arranged in two groups of two. The first pair focus on the measurement of water quality, and the second pair focus on methods of water purification.
Water Quality
The first activity involves the measurement of the pH of local water bodies. The aim of the experiment is to collect data on the acidity or alkalinity of water sources across the world. This will be achieved by schools measuring the pH of water using indicators or pH meter (if available) and submitting the results to the central Global Experiment Database for collation. This has the potential to provide fascinating information about the quality of water across the globe.
The second activity involves the measurement of salinity of local water sources by accurately weighing samples before and after evaporation. This activity is focused on the nature of water as a solvent – its ability to dissolve a wide range of substances, which is central to its importance to life on earth.
Water Purification
The third activity, called “Water – No Dirt, No Germs”, enables students to simulate the methods used to clarify and disinfect water – vital procedures which are commonplace in some parts of the world, but, if used universally, could prevent water-borne diseases like typhoid and cholera.
In the final activity, the Solar Stills Challenge, students make a solar still and measure its efficiency. A solar still uses energy from the sun to distill water, which removes the dissolved salt, and transforms salty water into drinking water.
Clean, fresh drinking water is a limited resource in the world, and this global experiment highlights the fact that this issue is a global one, which can only be solved by people around the world working together.
For further information visit the IYC2011 website at Chemistry2011.org or the section of the Royal Society of Chemistry website providing more details (rsc.org).
Simon Davies - Simon Davies has lived a varied life so far After completing a BSc in Chemistry at the University of Bristol, UK, he worked as a ...
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