On Wednesday 21 May, our LVI Chemistry students had the exciting opportunity to visit the Chemistry Department at the University of Bath, accompanied by Ms Skelhorn and Mrs Wilson. The trip was designed to deepen students’ understanding of the analytical techniques used to identify organic molecules - skills that will be essential for their A Level studies next year.

The focus of the day was aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), a compound the students will synthesize and analyse as part of their UVI practical coursework. The visit began in the university’s teaching laboratories, where students observed how infrared (IR) spectroscopy is used to analyse aspirin. They were fascinated to learn that the IR spectrometer contains a tiny diamond to help reflect and refract light during analysis.

Next, the group visited the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) suite, home to a powerful magnet cooled to just 4 Kelvin using a 10-mile-long coil of copper wire - making it a superconductor. Thanks to a crash course from Ms Skelhorn, the students were well-prepared to follow the technician’s explanation of how magnetic fields influence atomic nuclei and how this helps identify molecular structures.

The third stop was the mass spectrometry lab, where students discovered that similar technology is used in airport security to detect trace substances. This real-world connection brought the science to life in a meaningful way.

To round off the afternoon, students tackled a challenging chemistry problem that required them to apply all three techniques - IR, NMR, and mass spectrometry - to identify an unknown compound.

A huge thank you to the staff at University of Bath’s Chemistry Department for their warm welcome, expert guidance, and for inspiring our students with a glimpse into the world of university-level science.

Mrs Carol Wilson, Head of Chemistry