Chemists test analysis skills
The school’s analyst competition took place recently on a sweltering afternoon in the science labs, where several teams of three competed against each other in different experiments to identify which group had the best practical technique to obtain the most accurate results.
These three experiments were a back titration using coffee solution, thin layer chromatography, and a test to establish the oil content in different manufacturers’ creams. These experiments were new to most of us taking part, with equipment that I myself had never seen before, including a microcapillary pipette that tested my patience more than once! However, in classic Wilson’s fashion, the groups prepared well and got a handle of the practical techniques.
One of the highlights of the competition was the cooperation between different groups - in spite of competing against one another! This spirit of collaboration was heart-warming to witness, and also very helpful (otherwise, I would still be trying to get the bottom of the meniscus lined up along the graduation line on a volumetric flask).
After more than three hours under the intense pressure of ensuring every volume was perfect, and every drop of solution was accounted for, the teams submitted their results, hopeful to be crowned victors of the competition and potentially progress to the regional competition. Whilst no group was precise enough to make it to the regional competition, the group of Shravan, Savir and myself ended up winning.
A great achievement for our group as we had prepared extensively for the competition, and we saw the fruits of our hard work with the winning certificates!
A special thank you to Dr Welby who organised the event and was on hand the whole time to help us out with any questions of clarification or intrigue. She maintained the enthusiastic atmosphere despite the almost unbearable heat and allowed so many of us keen chemists to have a really meaningful experience. Thanks to Dr Welby and well done to everyone for taking part in the competition!
Article written by Ved (Year 12)