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Chemistry Chat
- Visit to a School Science Lab - Chemistry Club at Komaba Toho Junior and Senior High School
Introduction
The TCI MAIL covers activities of science clubs by junior and senior high school students who make great efforts here in Japan and abroad. This third report will feature the chemistry club in Komaba Toho Junior and Senior High School, which has received the grand award and best poster award in the Chemistry Club Presentation hosted by the Chemical Society of Japan, Kanto Branch in March 2013.
Based upon the basic educational policy “Think for yourself to find an answer”, the school implements science education placing importance on experiments and observations such as a weekly small-group experiment by dividing a class in half. We visited the chemistry club during the school festival on September 14, and the club meeting on October 21, 2013, when its new organizational framework was just launched after the festival centering on the 10th grade members. During an experiment, students always wore a white laboratory coat and safety eye glasses properly. It seemed that the school was really committed to educating safety control measures.
Members of the chemistry club in Komaba Toho Junior and Senior High School.
(TCI reagents are thankfully used.)
Chemistry Club in Komaba Toho Junior and Senior High School
The chemistry club was established in 1957, the same year as the school’s foundation. This traditional club appointed a new captain as the 56th. As of 2013, 58 students (32 junior high and 26 senior high from 10th to 11th grade) participate in the club under the guidance of teachers, Mr. Matsuoka, Mr. Hitora and Mr. Yanagisawa. They meet three times a week and conduct a theme-based experiment and research per team with several peers. While the members worked on experiments earnestly, it was impressive that they had a sense of humor such as their unique team names of “Genghis Khan” and “Kublai Khan” (the sound “Khan” means a team in Japanese), which were passed down for generations. At the beginning of every school year, each team leader sets a broad goal for experiments and teaches under-grade members to work together with them. They set up an opportunity at the end of a semester to report on their experimental results within the club, and lay out a new goal for the next semester. New and prospective 7th grade members of the club are required to attend basic chemistry lessons and experiment workshops from the sign-up in April until their assignment to a team in September. Studying the basics of chemistry and experiments for half a year, they may stand at the starting line as a researcher for the first time and are treated as members of the teams.
Study results from their successive accumulation of experiments are presented at the Japan Student Science Award (Tokyo round in September and the final in November), the Chemistry Club Presentation hosted by the Chemical Society of Japan, Kanto Branch (in March), and the Science Research Presentation hosted by Chiba University (in September). These competitions are not just a place to make a research presentation but also to communicate and interact with students from other schools.
Extracurricular activities during the summer vacation are also essential parts. In August, the members learn social ties with chemistry through the lodging camp and factory tours. To prepare for the school festival, they keep working energetically during the summer vacation. It seemed that their hard work led to a great turnout of people during the school festival in September, including adults who came to see their demonstration experiments.
As mentioned earlier, the chemistry club places great importance on safety management education. All members always report in writing on the amount and duration of use of reagents, and details and impressions of activities. Supervising their activities at all times and conducting regular discussions and safety guidance, the advisory teachers support the safety and improvement of experimental techniques and knowledge among the students.
One moment of the club activity.
(Students are having a discussion in front of a laptop.)
Award winning study results in 2013
Chemistry Club Presentation (by the Chemical Society of Japan, Kanto Branch) - Grand award
Japan Student Science Award – Tokyo round (High school category) Grand award, entered the final
(Liesegang phenomenon research team): The study on the Liesegang phenomenon with lead
The Liesegang phenomenon is a process of periodical precipitation from reacting a substance in a gel in contact with another substance. This study examines the connection between concentration and the pattern of the liesegang phenomenon, performing experiments with lead iodide (II) and lead chloride (II) solutions. The same observation is conducted on a solution with two types of anions. As a result, it has been identified that, as for a mixed-type liesegang ring, a pattern of lead chloride (II) is formed first, followed by a pattern of lead iodide (II) which grows downwards little by little. It also reports that the precipitation of lead chloride (II) is displaced by lead iodide (II) which has a smaller solubility product, and a characteristic needle crystal of lead iodide (II) is developed from the surface.
The Liesegang phenomenon is a process of periodical precipitation from reacting a substance in a gel in contact with another substance. This study examines the connection between concentration and the pattern of the liesegang phenomenon, performing experiments with lead iodide (II) and lead chloride (II) solutions. The same observation is conducted on a solution with two types of anions. As a result, it has been identified that, as for a mixed-type liesegang ring, a pattern of lead chloride (II) is formed first, followed by a pattern of lead iodide (II) which grows downwards little by little. It also reports that the precipitation of lead chloride (II) is displaced by lead iodide (II) which has a smaller solubility product, and a characteristic needle crystal of lead iodide (II) is developed from the surface.
Chemistry Club Presentation website
Chemistry Club Presentation by the Chemical Society of Japan, Kanto Branch - Best poster award
Japan Student Science Award - Tokyo round (High school category) Award for effort
(Metal team): The study of the Traube’s artificial cell
[Fe(CN)6]3- and [Fe(CN)6]4- form a colored precipitation by reaction with a transition metal ion. The phenomenon “Traube’s artificial cell” is an example of this reaction using aqueous solution and a crystal. This study observes a formation of artificial cells and researches details of the mechanism associating with a similar phenomenon “Chemical garden”. It has revealed that the direction of growth and elaboration of the precipitation membrane depend on the concentration of aqueous solution.
[Fe(CN)6]3- and [Fe(CN)6]4- form a colored precipitation by reaction with a transition metal ion. The phenomenon “Traube’s artificial cell” is an example of this reaction using aqueous solution and a crystal. This study observes a formation of artificial cells and researches details of the mechanism associating with a similar phenomenon “Chemical garden”. It has revealed that the direction of growth and elaboration of the precipitation membrane depend on the concentration of aqueous solution.
Chemistry Club Presentation website
Japan Student Science Award (High School category) - Incentive award
(Resin team): The study of coloring and decoloring of carbonless paper
Crystal violet (CV) is a dye used as an ink for carbonless paper as well as a pH indicator and cell stain solution. This study team has made a paper that is colored by keeping CV in microcapsules and applying friction. They are looking into dispersing these capsules into agar in which the color will change by friction.
TCI’s CV is thankfully used.
Crystal violet (CV) is a dye used as an ink for carbonless paper as well as a pH indicator and cell stain solution. This study team has made a paper that is colored by keeping CV in microcapsules and applying friction. They are looking into dispersing these capsules into agar in which the color will change by friction.
TCI’s CV is thankfully used.
Science Research Presentation by Chiba University - Poster presentation
(Crystal team): The study of a chemical garden with two types of salts
Award winning results in 2013
High School Chemistry Grand Prix 2013 - Silver award (Tomoki Yamanishi, 12th grade), Commendation from the manager of Kanto branch (Hiroyuki Mizuno, 11th grade)
Junior High School Tokyo Science Competition - Silver award (8th grade team), Bronze award (7th grade team)
Junior High School Tokyo Science Competition - Silver award (8th grade team), Bronze award (7th grade team)
Magazine article
The Chemical Society of Japan, “Kagaku-to Kyoiku (Chemistry and Education)” 2013, 61(7), 352.
Komaba Toho Junior and Senior High School Chemistry Club: Exploration of the Liesegang phenomenon
Komaba Toho Junior and Senior High School Chemistry Club: Exploration of the Liesegang phenomenon
New captain and teachers’ voice
The new captain Mr. Ishikawa and sub-captain Mr. Ono (both 10th grade) talked about reasons for applying for the club when they became interested in chemical experiments after seeing one in the club orientation session. They also heard about the above-mentioned tutoring system to lower-grade members per team. Teachers said that they were feeling sorry for some teams which were obliged to refrain from participating in presentations and competitions as the result of in-club selection due to the limited number of applicants, which would be a concern peculiar to a large organization.
Closing Remarks
We would like to end up with the chemistry club motto, “Safety first. Protective eye glasses required. A new discovery leads to a door to the future”, which was placed above the laboratory entrance in a frame. We wish for continued success and future growth of the chemistry club in Toho Komaba Junior and Senior High School. The TCI MAIL will continue the feature articles of science laboratories in junior and senior high school to meet new people and to make new discoveries.
The chemistry club motto was put above the lab entrance.