Reading school pupils create their own aspirin in University labs
Tuesday, 24 November 2009
Year 9 pupil creates asprin
The University's Department of Chemistry played host to pupils from 9 local schools recently to take part in the Reading ChemLabs Aspirin synthesis practical.
The ChemLab gives year 12 students the opportunity to spend an entire morning working on synthesising, purifying and testing the widely known drug Aspirin. The practical is particularly relevant to AS chemists, as the industrial manufacture of Aspirin is a part of some AS Chemistry specifications.
The three hour practical introduced pupils to a university lab, new equipment and techniques in a supportive and friendly environment. The departments Outreach Co-ordinator, Liz Tracey, Senior Outreach Technician, Dr John Baum, and student demonstrators were there to lend a hand and help pupils and teachers get the most out of the session.
Feedback from both teachers and pupils was very positive. Pupils also commented on the "sense of achievement" they felt on obtaining the final product.
Pupils were required to work methodically through a set of instructions in order to make the Aspirin, which was taken back to school for further analysis.
Reading ChemLabs provides schools with the opportunity to carry out a complete synthesis which they would otherwise not have the time or resources to do and it is evident that teachers really appreciate this.
"It has been great to do a large scale practical without time pressures and to use the high quality equipment. The students actually want to know why!" commented one teacher.
The schools attending the sessions were Reading School, Claire's Court, Bracknell College, Douay Martyrs, Bulmershe School, St Joseph's School, John o' Gaunt School and Theale Green. The events were funded by the Royal Society of Chemistry's Chemistry the Next Generation initiative. The Reading ChemLabs Activity is one of the Department of Chemistry's Outreach Enterprises organised by School Director of Outreach Dr Elizabeth Page.