To celebrate Science Week, the Science Department put on an amazing display of experiments for Year 10. Check out the photos and descriptions of the experiments below. Experiments included:

Custard Powder 
Custard power was suspended below a Bunsen burner, and when blown into the flame, the pupils saw how quickly the substance burnt. The demonstration was used to explain how energy can be released when food is burnt. 

Whoosh Bottle 
A mixture of alcohol and air in a large polycarbonate bottle is ignited. The resulting rapid combustion reaction, often accompanied by a dramatic ‘whoosh’ sound and flames, demonstrates the large amount of chemical energy released in the combustion of alcohols. 

Screaming Jelly Babies 
This demonstration involves putting a jelly baby into molten potassium chlorate. The reaction shows the oxidation of the sugar in the jelly baby. Sometimes a high-pitched screaming noise can be heard during the reaction. 

Volcano 
Sulphuric acid mixed with sugar is a highly exothermic reaction, releasing heat, steam, and sulphur oxide fumes. Aside from the sulphurous odour, the reaction smells a lot like caramel. The white sugar turns into a black carbonized tube that pushes itself out of the beaker.  

Mentos & Coke 
The sweetener and other chemicals in the Mentos react with the Diet Coke causing lots of carbon dioxide bubbles to form on the surface of the mints very quickly. This creates pressure to build in the bottle and sends a spectacular jet of bubbles shooting into the air.

Thank you to the Science Department for putting on such a spectacular display for Year 10.

- Emily Jennings