The final week of Term 2 seen STEM Club students gathering data and supporting one another to get projects to a point that can sustain a two-week break.
Nichola’s murexide indicator, which shows the end-point for EDTA titration with nickel ions, is proving very successful by turning an impressive violet colour at the end-point. Meanwhile, Logan-Jack’s starch indicator for iodine titration against vitamin C is turning the characteristic blue-black colour that verifies a starch/iodine end-point. This means that both Nichola and Logan-Jack have identified sound quantitative methods of estimating nickel ions in mining waste-water, and vitamin C levels in dietary fruit and vegetables, so we can await interesting results.
Sneha (Ash) has completed the construction of her trebuchet and is ready for experimental trials. Eva is experiencing success in hydroponics with positive germination and growth of her seedlings in 4 nutrient variables. Aditi has prepared a number of paper-plane designs and has constructed an inclined ramp and uniform launcher, all in readiness for fair-testing of the planes.
Sanuli’s biofuel production is progressing well with the fermentation of onion and kiwifruit ethanol variables. This week, she was ably supported by Fatima, who is awaiting the collection of methane gas from the bacterial decay of vegetable matter, in her project. Reuben awaits the arrival of a speaker for construction of his Chladni Plate so, in the meantime, he supported Eva with her hydroponics.
The findings of all projects will be shared in Term 3, so keep watching this space…..
Ms Ann Burke
STEM Coordinator
