During the week young adults from The Prince’s Trust joined in as volunteers, helping the younger children and generally being at the beck and call of the “mad scientists”. One Trust member, Ethan, especially enjoyed flying rockets loaded with water bombs …outside of course!
None of this would have happened without the generous support of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Outreach Fund – Byker is a deprived area and cash strapped community centres simply can’t afford to provide events of this nature.
We carried out various chemistry experiments, including the chemistry of baking powder. We put vinegar in bottles, poured in baking powder then covered the tops with balloons and watched as our balloons blew up with carbon dioxide. We then added food colouring to the baking powder and poured vinegar over the top, creating beautiful bubbles.
One of our Kemical Kids, Lillie Brodie – aged 11 – said: “I helped Stu mix the baking experiments and also [Kitt] with the Lava stuff. The baking was the best.”
Picture: © Tom Ingham