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Join Dr Fabrizio Ortu and Dr Philip Ash as they provide a fascinating introduction to chemistry at university, demonstrating some of the fundamental properties through some exciting flame tests, and how colour can be used to monitor changes, or identify substances with some further interesting experiments. They also show the reactivity series in action for the production of hydrogen and the deposition of copper metal with one final, engaging experiment, culminating in an illuminating and gripping scientific Spotlight!
Dr Fabrizio OrtuUniversity of LeicesterChemistry
All episodes
1. Introduction to Chemistry
2. Flame tests
3. Why are materials coloured?
4. Chemical reactions at work
5. Recap & careers
About the university
University of Leicester
The University of Leicester aims to educate, equip and encourage their students to forge a better future. As Citizens of Change, Leicester's research excellence is changing lives and having transformative impact across the globe. Ranked as a Top 30 University, their students and staff make up a powerhouse for ground-breaking research, including being in the top ten UK universities for their COVID-19 research; locating the remains of King Richard III; and the discovery of DNA fingerprinting. Located right in the heart of the East Midlands, Leicester prides itself in being one of the UK’s most multi-cultural cities, playing host to a number of cultural festivals such as a colorful Caribbean Carnival and the largest Diwali celebrations outside of India.
University of Leicester profile →Meet the academic
Dr Fabrizio Ortu
Dr Fabrizio Ortu is a Chemistry Lecturer in the School of Chemistry at the University of Leicester, which he joined in June 2019. He obtained his BSc in Chemistry (2007) and MRes (2009) at the University of Sassari (Italy). He has worked within various projects funded by several funding bodies and charities, covering a range of topics in f-element chemistry: molecular magnetism, actinide organometallic and coordination chemistry, lanthanide-element multiple bonding interactions. Throughout his career, Fabrizio has had the chance to work as part of multidisciplinary teams at the interface between inorganic chemistry, sustainable synthesis and materials science and have established a wide network of collaborations in Europe, Asia and America.
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