Glasgow Chemists led by Dr Alistair Boyer designed three different activities all with a spooky Halloween theme at the Glasgow Science Centre. They invited people to peat the periodic table in a game that linked everyday objects (including bones, blood and fireworks) to the periodic table as part of the celebrations of the 150th anniversary of Mendeleev’s publication of the first periodic table. The activity included an autopsy of a pumpkin, with the team investigating what makes up a pumpkin, from the difference in composition between flesh, skin and seeds to what makes a pumpkin orange and how can pumpkins be used as natural methods to control kill intestinal worms. Finally the researchers looked at plastic horrors, comparing different types of plastic from natural to synthetic and consideration why nature can break some types of plastic down but not others accompanied with a ghastly demonstration of liquid latex prosthetic wound-making.  Glasgow Chemists did not manage to scare any visitors - the stall was buzzing with activity including Darth Vader himself!  

First published: 26 October 2019

<< News