Secondary school pupils from Jastrzębie-Zdrój in a research project at the Faculty of Chemistry
Three pupils from the Jan III Sobieski Group of Schools No. 6 from Jastrzębie-Zdrój are carrying out a research project in cooperation with the Faculty of Chemistry of the Silesian University of Technology. Their first successes include the gold medal which they won in the last edition of the largest event in Poland promoting innovation and inventiveness - the International Warsaw Invention Show (IWIS 2022) in Warsaw.
These students are: Emilia Basiura – a 4th grade pupil of a technical secondary school with the profile of an analyst technician; Anna Leśny – a 3rd grade pupil of a technical school with the profile of an analyst technician; Patryk Olejniczak - a 4th grade pupil of a technical school with the profile of an analyst technician.
The project supervisors are Jerzy Maduzia (Academic Secondary Comprehensive School in Rybnik), Barbara Halska (Technical and Comprehensive Group of Schools No. 1 in Warsaw), Maciej Sowa (Chemical Faculty, Silesian University of Technology).
The pupils investigate the kinetics of the reaction of copper with nitric acid under different concentration and temperature conditions. As explained by one of the supervisors of the project - Dr. Eng. Maciej Sowa from the Faculty of Chemistry of the Silesian University of Technology, chemistry is a science firmly rooted in the observation of changes that occur after various substances come into contact (react) with each other.
– The branch of chemistry that deals with determining the rate of these changes is kinetics. Copper is a metal that can be recognized by its characteristic red-brown colour. When we contact it with nitric acid, which is one of the very important intermediate products in the fertilizer industry, a reaction takes place. In secondary school textbooks, it is not very comprehensively explained that results of this reaction depend on the concentration of the acid. When the acid is concentrated (there is a lot of it in relation to the solvent - water), the reaction proceeds to produce nitrogen dioxide - a brown, toxic gas. When the acid is diluted with water, among the products we find nitric oxide (II) - a less harmful, colourless gas. The pupils felt unsatisfied after chemistry lessons, because in the end what concentration exactly produces one gas or the other? - he said.
When their search for answers in secondary school literature came to nothing, their chemistry teacher - Mr. Jerzy Maduzia - suggested conducting experiments. Initially, the research was carried out in the school laboratory, but when this space was no longer sufficient, they started cooperation with the Faculty of Chemistry of the Silesian University of Technology.
The pupils are passionate about chemistry, and the project is carried out by them in their free time.
“This research is very interesting for us because it allows us to understand how various factors affect the rate of a chemical reaction. We have the opportunity to examine how the final product changes depending on concentration and temperature conditions. It is also a great opportunity to learn about new research techniques and methods of data analysis, as well as to learn how to interpret research results” - stressed the young researchers.
After completing their education at the technical secondary school, the pupils plan to continue their education in this field.
- We are considering going to the Faculty of Chemistry of the Silesian University of Technology, where we will have the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to perform the profession of a chemical analyst - they pointed out.
The pupils have already achieved their first successes. In last year's edition of the largest event in Poland promoting innovation and inventiveness - the International Warsaw Invention Show (IWIS 2022) in Warsaw - they won the gold medal. The jury appreciated the interdisciplinary approach of the pupils, which combines the scientific sphere (planned publication of an article on research), didactic (video tool for secondary school pupils) and technical (development of technology for dissolving copper from electronic waste).
Congratulations and we wish you further success!
