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Reposted by Bob Worley

Education in Chemistry @rsc-eic.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Great things come in small practicals 🔬 Discover teachers’ and technicians’ favourite #microscale experiments and how they help reduce waste, cut costs, improve safety and build learners’ confidence in practical work edu.rsc.org/feature/more... #iteachchem

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Bob Worley @bobthechemist.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

This is the Mg/Li electrochemical cell. The Mg/Na cell is on www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYAq.... This method follows the Standard Electrode Potential Table, as it's based on thermodynamics. #chemsky #chemchat #realtimechem #beyondbenign #iTeachChem #Chemistry

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Bob Worley @bobthechemist.bsky.social · 01/02/2026

Electrolysis of 0.5M CuCl₂ solution powered by light! NOT A BATTERY. See, the electrolysis is so slow that the litmus is actually red before bleaching. LED banks are in parallel, better than the previous tweet on this topic. #chemsky #chemchat #realtimechem #beyondbenign #iTeachChem #Chemistry

The light at the back is shining on a bank of LEDs connected in parallel to provide a very small current but enough to microelectrolyse 0.5M CuCl₂ solution. Electrodes are carbon rods.

Chlorine reacts with KI solution. It turns blue litmus red and bleaches. It,causes starch/iodate paper to turn blue with the formation of iodine

After 10 minutes, litmus paper is almost bleached but slightly red, and the starch/iodate paper is almost white. And now 0.5M KBr has turned slightly yellow with the formation of bromine water.

After 10 minutes, the cathode shows a little copper. A 9V battery would bleach litmus in 2 minutes and show more copper, as the current would be larger.

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Bob Worley @bobthechemist.bsky.social · 01/01/2026

Innovative design moves with new technology. The cuvette holder moves from Lego to a 3D-printed one. It uses a coloured LED as the emitter and an IR-LED as the collector. This produces a voltage related to the transmitted light. #chemsky #chemchat #realtimechem #beyondbenign #iTeachChem #Chemistry

The new design is top left. The Lego cuvette holder is top right. The voltmeter is the most expensive part.

The downside is that the absorbance has to be calculated. However, a lof money has been saved for a set of 10.

There are 6 coloured LEDs and a UV LED in the experiments. Is it any good? See the next message.

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Bob Worley @bobthechemist.bsky.social · 24/12/2025

See how little solid is used to do this. The main video is on www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWxT.... It only takes a minute, allowing time for drawing mechanisms. Why does it form in the middle? Why does it sparkle? How is it yellow? #chemsky #chemchat #realtimechem #beyondbenign #iTeachChem #Chemistry

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Bob Worley @bobthechemist.bsky.social · 23/12/2025

Yes it much nicer to use than cabbage. Here is the pH profile. Watch my lockdown project on butterfly pea tea and more. See www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbR5... #chemsky #chemchat #realtimechem #beyondbenign #iTeachChem #Chemistry

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Bob Worley @bobthechemist.bsky.social · 13/12/2025

Sustainable electrolysis using light instead of wasting the battery. Copper on the cathode #chemsky #chemchat #realtimechem #beyondbenign #iTeachChem #Chemistry

This is electrolysis using light. The 8 light cells are arranged in parallel to provide a voltage of about 3 V and a current of 65 mA. Copper chloride solution is electrolysed to give copper and chlorine Bleaching litmus, affecting starch/iodide paper, and potassium iodide solution.

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Bob Worley @bobthechemist.bsky.social · 07/12/2025

This has a beauty of its own when projected on a screen in a lecture theatre. A diffusing complex forms when Fe(NO₃)₃ and KCNS come together. Look what happens as an Nd magnet comes close. "In a little you can see a lot." #chemsky #chemchat #realtimechem #beyondbenign #iTeachChem #Chemistry

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Bob Worley @bobthechemist.bsky.social · 06/12/2025

Go to sites.google.com/view/13ismc2.... It's about micro- and small-scale practical activities inspired by the school educators in chemistry around the world. Look at the gallery page! Sign up on the front page. Send a proposal #chemsky #chemchat #realtimechem #beyondbenign #iTeachChem #Chemistry

sites.google.com

13ISMC26

Wednesday 8 July to Friday 10 July 2026

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Bob Worley @bobthechemist.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

Try these in a 1-1.5 cm diameter droplet of water on a polypropylene surface. Why do this? A short activity leads to a long discussion on ionic lattices, dissolving (solvation), diffusion, precipitation & spectator ions. #chemsky #chemchat #realtimechem #beyondbenign #iTeachChem #Chemistry

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Bob Worley @bobthechemist.bsky.social · 04/12/2025

Watch the ppt appear. Ca(NO₃)₂ goes in late, as it dissolves quicker. It's better to get the ppt close to the centre. This process occurs in less than a minute. It works for any precipitation, but this is a "green" version. #chemsky #chemchat #realtimechem #beyondbenign #iTeachChem #Chemistry

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Bob Worley @bobthechemist.bsky.social · 24/10/2025

Here is the video of the glistening crystals of lead iodide. The glistening crystals are formed during formation (as they are so thin) and by the bombardment with surrounding water molecules. #ChatChemistry, #ITeachChem @cleapss.bsky.social #chemistry #greenchemistry @rsc-eic.bsky.social

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Bob Worley @bobthechemist.bsky.social · 24/10/2025

What a fantastic lead iodide precipitate by diffusion I obtained yesterday. The sparkling changes were beautiful.

Tiny speck of Pb(NO₃)₂ was introduced on the left (you can still see the remains) in a 1 cm diameter of water; I waited 10 seconds and put a tiny speck of KI from the right.

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Bob Worley @bobthechemist.bsky.social · 19/10/2025

We are comparing the diffusion speeds of halogens along damp starch/iodide paper. This activity is conducted in Petri dishes on the bench. The final section shows iodine result and uses 1 tiny ball of iodine. #ChatChemistry, #ITeachChem @cleapss.bsky.social #chemistry #greenchemistry

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Bob Worley @bobthechemist.bsky.social · 18/10/2025

Confusion abounds as to whether iodine sublimes or evaporates at 1 atm. In fact, it melts and flows. A little microscale triumph. See tinyurl.com/2nw2hram #ChatChemistry, #ITeachChem @cleapss.bsky.social @rsc-educomscot.bsky.social @sfed-rsc.bsky.social @beyondbenign.bsky.social

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Bob Worley @bobthechemist.bsky.social · 02/08/2025

You can watch this method of filtering on youtu.be/6rSu-blfRZo. This is separating activated carbon from an aqueous suspension. Carbon was used to remove a dye.

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Bob Worley @bobthechemist.bsky.social · 26/05/2025

Atmospheric chemistry is difficult for schools, but microscale techniques can help with evidence for ozone and hydroxyl radicals. Here are the videos referred to in the picture. youtu.be/mlQRDuKm63w www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_PA... www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jNh... #ITeachchem

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Bob Worley @bobthechemist.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

Here is a diffusing precipitate of silver iodide on a thermochromic plastic sheet so that the endothermic dissolving and the exothermic precipitation are seen. #ITeachchem #RealTimeChem #chatchemistry @sfed-rsc.bsky.social @beyondbenign.bsky.social, bsky.app/profile/cerg...

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Bob Worley @bobthechemist.bsky.social · 06/04/2025

Watch highly coloured ions MnO₄⁻ & Cu(NH₃)₄²⁺ diffuse in a droplet of water using 2 different paths caused by presence of a magnet during electrolysis. Evidence of charged particles (ions). www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMta... and www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9oM... #ITeachchem #RealTimeChem #chatchemistry

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Bob Worley @bobthechemist.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

Using microscale techniques in school chemistry to show how carbon in CO₂ can be captured and imprisoned, but I had to let it go to show it worked! Video on www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tstu... bsky.app/profile/did:...

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Bob Worley @bobthechemist.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

Watch for the effect of a magnet on the iron/thiocyanate complex. Paramagnetism at work. www.youtube.com/watch?v=qipp... #ITeachchem #RealTimeChem #chatchemistry @sfed-rsc.bsky.social

youtube.com

IronIII thiocyanate complex

YouTube video by Bob Worley

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Bob Worley @bobthechemist.bsky.social · 22/02/2025

Helplines asked #CLEAPSS for an alternative to CuO/H₂SO₄ neutralisation reaction salt making for students to make salts. Not easy, but using ed/ox metal/acid reactions uses the same skills. This is iron(II) sulfate made from staples. #ITeachchem #RealTimeChem #chatchemistry

0.25 cm³ of 1M copper sulfate is added to the iron staples and 2 cm³ of 1.5M sulfuric acid It is heated for 10 minutes. Can also use steel paper clips. This is the personal spirit burner (ethanol biofuel) hotplate.

Using filter paper in small-scale chem does not work. Filtering the reaction mixture through cotton wool in a Pasteur pipette. Copper particles and bits of iron are separated from the iron(II) sulfate solution..

Heating the filtered solution for 10 minutes on my personal spirit-burner, bio-fuel, hotplate.

Then leave to cool. The crystals form slowly, which might take longer than a lesson, but the results are very beautiful.

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Bob Worley @bobthechemist.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

Making 1-5% soap solutions in 7:3 propan-2-ol/water. Filtered to get a colourless liquid. Laser light reflection indicates it is colloidal. Is the twinkling effect caused by collisions with water molecules? #ChatChemistry #ITeachChem @cleapss.bsky.social @cerg.bsky.social

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Bob Worley @bobthechemist.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

Evaporation with Thermochromic plastic and 2 kitchen thermometers. Visualise the flow of energy in an open endothermic process at room temperature—an evidence-based small-scale approach using easily available modern materials. #ChatChemistry #ITeachChem @sfed-rsc.bsky.social @cerg.bsky.social

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Bob Worley @bobthechemist.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

Students encounter a precipitate every day as they wash with soap & make scum. @cleapss.bsky.social has had this method for 20 years as traditional methods were risky but now introduce a personal hotplate. Students stay still. #ChatChemistry #ITeachStudents @sfed-rsc.bsky.social @cerg.bsky.social

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Bob Worley @bobthechemist.bsky.social · 20/09/2024

Many helpline calls regarding aspirin syn come to @cleapss.bsky.social. The cost of the TLC slide is rising more than inflation for schools. Can use iodine to see the chromatogram. The hotplate design comes from teachers in Thailand. Applying #GreenChemistry principles. #ChatChemistry #ITeachChem

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Bob Worley @bobthechemist.bsky.social · 18/09/2024

Thanks. You can look at these slides and always contact me #ChatChemistry

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Bob Worley @bobthechemist.bsky.social · 18/09/2024

Newish approach to an old experiment as white phosphorus is no longer available. Red phosphorus is. It was the first use of bottle top in school chemistry as an inexpensive alternative to the crucible. @cleapss.bsky.social subscribers see PS67l Burning phosphorus in air #ChatChemistry #ITeachChem

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Bob Worley @bobthechemist.bsky.social · 13/09/2024

We tried this after a Helpline call. "Is this still OK to do". Of course it is. It is also on edu.rsc.org/exhibition-c... Our catalyst got so hot it vaporised. Clean the copper foil in acid beforehand and the reaction lasts nearly an hour. #ChatChemistry, #ITeachChem @cleapss.bsky.social

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Bob Worley @bobthechemist.bsky.social · 01/09/2024

Saw this at icce2024thailand.com. Your own hotplate. @CLEAPSS makes it safer to hold & move using 3D printing (thanks to D?T). Cools from 250C to hand-hot in one minute after removing the flame on its slider. #ChatChemistry, #ITeachChem . More details to come. No need to walk around the lab.

Ethanol fuelled spirit burner. The can is cut and sharp edges are folded over. 3D printed burner holder/slider and can-holder using the groove.

IR Thermometer indicates the temperature of the surface..

Removing the spirit burner. The can is hand hot in 1 minute.

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Bob Worley @bobthechemist.bsky.social · 30/08/2024

Shining white light though crystals with 2 refractive indexes, either side of polarizer light filters (one of which rotates), show stunning colours. Ben @cleapss.bsky.social to schools with a simple arrangement. Here are sugar, benzoic acid & MgSO₄.7H₂O. #ChatChemistry, #ITeachChem

Sugar crystals between crossed polarizing filters.

Benzoic acid between crossed polarizing filters.

Magnesium sulfate crystals between crossed polarizing filters.

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Bob Worley @bobthechemist.bsky.social · 24/08/2024

Back to the 300-character challenge. Been to a microscale meeting in Bangkok icce2024thailand.com. Microscale complements green chemistry & an approach the SDGs. Saw & had to make the smallest ion bridge ever. Contact details on book & other sites. See the diaphragm cell. @chatchemistry.bsky.social

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