Course Description

This course will introduce you to the fascinating chemical world of colour through the use of a wide range of practical activities; the extraction of colourful compounds from nature; the synthesis of synthetic colourful compounds; the use of coloured compounds in dyes and dyeing; and the chemistry of indicators. The course will also touch on the history of dyes; model building and nomenclature. There will be the opportunity to problem solve through the understanding of modern analytical techniques using "colour" to identify compounds.

The aims are to introduce and develop your awareness, knowledge and understanding of the role of colour in chemistry in our world, including an understanding of the structures and names of coloured compounds so that you gain a real and tangible sense of these often ubiquitous and occasionally essential molecules. Other aims are to understand and carry out techniques and to gain skills so that you can synthesise a synthetic coloured molecule.   Another focus is to gain experience of working in a University chemical laboratory.

This five day journey through the chemistry of colour should enable you to understand and appreciate its presence and importance in all our lives. It will enable you to recognise, extract, name and synthesise complex coloured chemicals. You will gain a deeper insight and confidence in using a range of practical techniques and applications, which will aid you in your future chemical studies.

The course is open to all those students who have obtained or are predicted to obtain a grade A*-B in a science or chemistry course at GCSE or IGCSE. Students should be able to be independent thinkers and also be able to work in a group to undertake some practical work. Mathematical ability should be a predicted or achieved grade C at GCSE or IGCSE.

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