High school students participating in chemistry experiments in a collaboration with the UAH Collège of Science.
Students at East Limestone High School participate in chemistry experiments thanks to UAH Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Dr. Olaf Nachtigall and East Limestone Science Teacher, Charity Reyes.

Students at East Limestone High School are diving into the world of modern chemistry concepts, thanks to a collaboration between UAH Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Dr. Olaf Nachtigall and East Limestone Science Teacher, Charity Reyes. 

The collaboration allows students to explore chemistry in hands-on laboratory courses designed for photo- and electrochemical experiments that simulate and replicate natural processes. This creates an engaging and interactive learning experience that bridges classroom theory with real-world applications. 

“Local schools often lack the equipment to visualize scientific concepts and engage the students in solving real-world problems,” says Nachtigall. “UAH's College of Science has the equipment and expertise to provide a hands-on science experience to K-12 students. This significantly enhances the learning outcome of the science classes since the students have an opportunity to reflect and apply their knowledge.”

One of the experiments students engage in involves exploring the behavior of electrons in various metals when subjected to heat. Each type of metal possesses a differently charged core. The negatively charged electrons experience varying degrees of attraction depending on the effective positive charge of the specific metal core. Consequently, the electrons in different metals emit varying colors. Through the experiment, the students are able to identify different metals in different samples by matching the observed "flame colors" to the corresponding metal.

Another experiment visualized the concept of complementary colors through the behavior of electrons in an object. When an object is exposed to light that contains all colors, known as "white light," its appearance depends on which colors are absorbed and which are reflected. If the object reflects all colors without absorbing any, it appears white. Conversely, if it absorbs all colors, it appears black.

However, when an object absorbs only a specific color and reflects the remaining colors, it takes on the appearance of the complementary color of the absorbed hue. For instance, red and green are complementary colors. If an object absorbs red light, it will appear green, and if it absorbs green light, it will appear red. This principle is exemplified in plants, which use green leaves to absorb red light. The absorbed red light excites electrons within the leaves, driving the process of photosynthesis.

Students are able to use the knowledge gained in the experiment to identify the color of a solution by seeing its absorption spectrum. When using a color wheel, students could easily translate the measured absorption to the appearance of the sample. 

When asked why school partnerships are important, Nachtigall explains, “The College of Science outreach increases scientific literacy, encourages students to pursue a career in science, and helps recruit the next generations of UAH students.”