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Hi Katherine I reckon you need experiments with surprising outcomes, and here are three that fill the bill admirably; 1. Electrolysis of water (and te subsequent explosive recombination of hydrogen and oxygen) - easy to do on a tabletop with a couple of D cell batteries and some stout wire nails as electrodes, and very 'alchemical' in the sense that it appears to be a transmutation of matter. 2. Making indicator solution from Red Cabbage - looks like making a witches brew, smells a bit iffy and produces a magical result - a liquid that chages colour depending on pH. You could even equip yourself with a small cauldron to do this in. 3. Powder explosions using custard powder, cornflour or similar. Spectacular, ecxiting, guaranteed to make you an instant hero among the under 12s, and quite surprising. Most people don't expect to be able to get a four foot plume of flame out of a tablespoon of custard powder. If you choose to do 3, don't call it 'exploding custard', though. This term is a trademark owned by my friend Ian Russell, who has been doing science shows under this name, and including the eponymous demonstration, for the last 15 years or so. Hope this helps, good luck, and visit www.big.uk.com for more ideas - if you're into science shows why not become a member of BIG, and come to our fantastic Event in Newcastle next month (see website for details) where you'll be able to meet with some of the best scientific showpeople in the country! Cheers Richard Ellam L M Interactive (science shows & hands-on exhibits) and Secretary of BIG. > From: Katherine Cox <[log in to unmask]> > Reply-To: "psci-com: on public engagement with science" > <[log in to unmask]> > Date: Mon, 6 Jun 2005 22:25:55 +0100 > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: [PSCI-COM] Alchemy experiments > > Hi > > I am a PhD student in Chemitry but am suppose to be doing some outreach work > with some children (aged most likely under 10) on the, "Science of Harry > Potter". One subject I have to talk about is alchemy and I wanted to make it > as interactive as possible for the children by carrying out some > experiments. > > Does anyone have any suggestions for simple experiments? I have had a look > on the internet but am looking for experiments that don't need the presence > of a fume hood, bunsen burner or complicated equipement as I am going to be > giving the talk in a museum lecture theatre. > > Cheers > > Katherine > > PS The other topics I am suppose to be covering are: > - illusions > - magnetism/levitation > - mechanics of flight > - magical creatures > - herbal remedies > I already have some simple hands on experiments and talks for most of these > subjects but any other suggestions would be great. > > ********************************************************************** > > 1. To suspend yourself from the list, whilst on leave, for example, > send an email to [log in to unmask] with the following message: > > set psci-com nomail > > 2. To resume email from the list, send the following message: > > set psci-com mail > > 3. To leave psci-com, send an email to [log in to unmask] with the > message: > > leave psci-com > > 4. Further information about the psci-com discussion list, including list > archive, > can be found at the list web site: > http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/psci-com.html > > 5. The psci-com gateway to internet resources on science communication and > science > and society can be found at http://psci-com.org.uk > ********************************************************************** ********************************************************************** 1. To suspend yourself from the list, whilst on leave, for example, send an email to [log in to unmask] with the following message: set psci-com nomail 2. To resume email from the list, send the following message: set psci-com mail 3. To leave psci-com, send an email to [log in to unmask] with the message: leave psci-com 4. Further information about the psci-com discussion list, including list archive, can be found at the list web site: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/psci-com.html 5. The psci-com gateway to internet resources on science communication and science and society can be found at http://psci-com.org.uk **********************************************************************