What you do

Have you ever wandered around a Nature Trail, deep in the countryside? Or a Historical Trail, around an old market town? Why not make a Chemistry Trail around your school or neighbourhood?

How do you Start?

Have a look around your neighbourhood or the school grounds. Visit your local library. Note down everything that might be of chemical interest even if you’re not sure of the chemistry behind it.

What are the local buildings made of? Bricks? What colour? Stone? What sort? How long has the stone been there? (Schools, churches and other public buildings often exhibit the date when they were constructed.) Has the stone eroded?

Look around a graveyard. What are the gravestones made of? Which type of stone best survived the wind and rain? (Remember, gravestones usually have a date on them.) Which types of stone have lichens or algae growing on them?

How many different metals can you spot? Which corrode rapidly and which do not?

Are there any street names of chemical interest? Lime Kiln Lane, Sugar House Lane, Quarry Bank, Salters’ Way.....? How did they get these names? Did any famous chemists live or work nearby? Any chemically interesting factories?

Is there a roadside salt bin? What is it there for? Are there bins for re-cycling glass bottles? Do different bottles have to be kept separate? Why? What colours? What makes them this colour?

Telling others about your trail

You may need to use science books from the library to answer these questions. You may need to ask for adult help. You may not be able to find answers to some questions. It doesn’t matter. You’ve probably got too much information anyway.

What are you going to say in your trail? Who are you writing it for? People of your age who know about as much (or as little ) chemistry as you do? Are you writing for your parents? A younger brother or sister? How much science can you afford to put in without putting off your audience?

How will you present your trail? Hand written? Word processed? Can you draw pictures or take photographs to illustrate the trail? Will you need a map? Once printed could you sell copies to raise funds?

Does your trail have to be printed? Could it be tape-recorded, so that people could have a commentary on their personal stereo?

THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES PROVIDE USEFUL INFORMATION:

Borrows, P., "The Pimlico Chemistry Trail", School Science Review, Dec. 1984, 66, (235), 221.
A general introduction to the idea of chemistry trails, including concrete, air and river pollution, building materials such as granite, brick and sandstone, corrosion of metals, swimming pool chemistry.

Byrne, M., Building Materials and Buildings.
Part I, School Science Review, Dec. 1981, 62, (220), 452.
Part II, School Science Review, Dec. 1981, 62, (220), 675.
Part III, School Science Review, Dec. 1982, 64, (226), 63.
This useful series of articles is not about trails, but gives a great deal of chemical information that could be incorporated into trails in most areas.

Borrows, P., Education in Chemistry, 1993, 30, (1), 18.
General article, giving examples of different types, and extracts from some trails.

THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES BY PETER BORROWS (ALSO IN EDUCATION IN CHEMISTRY) COVER MORE SPECIFIC TOPICS:

1994, 31, (1), 7 (cement and concrete), (3), 63 (granite and sandstone), (5), 118 (bricks and mortar)
1995, 32, (1), 6 (limestone and lichens), (3), 62 (rust and protection from corrosion), (5), 120 (other metals - zinc, lead, copper, aluminium)
1996, 33, (1), 6 (glass), (3), 63 (salt), (5), 119 (autumn leaves - plant pigments)
1997, 34, (1), 8 (on the trail of famous chemists - statues, plaques and gravestones)

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