Stephen Ashworth
The MoleMeasuring the speed of light with chocolate
Discover how you can measure the speed of light by melting chocolate in your kitchen in this article from the ‘Avogadro’s lab’ series.
The MoleTesting dyes
Explore how a range of different colours can be achieved through dyeing and find tests you can try at home in this article from the ‘Avogadro’s lab’ series.
The MoleGels and their uses
Find out about the important role gels play in our daily lives, from jellies to contact lenses, in this article from the ‘Avogadro’s lab’ series.
The MoleThe chemistry of candles
Learn about the chemistry behind candles and how they work in this article from ‘Avogadro’s lab’, including a test to try at home with safety instructions.
FeatureMassive Open Online Chemistry
Michael Anderson, Jonathan Agger, Stephen Ashworth, Simon Lancaster and Patrick O’Malley explore the trends in teaching chemistry online
The MoleHow to make light by crushing sugar
Discover how stretching, scratching or crushing some materials can produce light, and try a quick experiment to demonstrate this effect using sugar.
The MoleHow ice crystals create optical illusions
From light pillars and sun haloes to false suns, explore the mysterious effects ice crystals can produce when they interact with light.
The MoleFractional crystallisation
Explore how fractional crystallisation can be used to purify mixtures and refine substances using this simple evaporation experiment.
The MoleObserving chirality and the ‘handedness’ of sugar
Find out more about the molecular property of chirality and try a simple experiment using sucrose to explore ‘handedness’ of sugar yourself.
The MoleModelling crystal structure using marshmallows
Explore the regular and ordered structure of crystals before modelling them yourself using marshmallows and cocktail sticks in this ‘Avogadro’s lab’ activity.
The MoleCatalytic metals and their uses
Learn about catalysts based on the transition metals and find out how they are used in catalytic converters to clean up exhaust fumes.
The MoleEnzymes and their role in the human body
Enzymes catalyse reactions inside the human body. Find out more about how they work and discover a quick experiment with yeast to try yourself.
The MoleBatteries and electrochemical cells
Investigate the chemistry behind the battery in your smartphone and find out how you can build a simple electrochemical cell from everyday items in your house.
The MoleMake your own spectroscope
Find out how to build your own spectroscope using an old DVD to explore colour and the splitting of light in this article from the ‘Avogadro’s lab’ series.
The MoleWhat is vitamin C and how can we test for it?
Find out about vitamin C or ascorbic acid and try a short experiment to test for its presence using iodine in this article from our ‘Avogadro’s lab’ series.
NewsExploding custard covers South Africa
Stephen Ashworth shares highlights from his recent sabbatical tour of presenting science shows and workshops in South African schools
The MoleWhy are there colours in soap bubbles?
Explore the chemistry of bubbles and what causes the colours we can see in them, and find out how you can experiment with soap films and bubbles yourself.
The MoleUsing chemistry to turn ‘water’ into ‘wine’
Learn how iron(III) oxide and potassium thiocyanate can be used to turn ‘water’ into ‘wine’, and try a similar experiment yourself using household ingredients.
NewsKitchen Chemistry in South Africa
Stephen Ashworth has recently returned from taking chemistry, including the award winning workshop Kitchen Chemistry, to schools and learners in South Africa