Chemistry Honors students in the Punahou Summer Programs are gaining firsthand experience with the precision and problem-solving required in advanced laboratory science. In this accelerated course, students build on foundational chemistry concepts through rigorous coursework while applying their knowledge in hands-on experiments.
During a recent lab, students used titration, a technique that measures how much of one solution is needed to react completely with another, to determine the composition of unknown substances. After preparing solutions in volumetric flasks, they slowly added sodium hydroxide (NaOH) from a buret to samples of a diprotic acid and commercial vinegar. A few drops of phenolphthalein, a color-changing indicator, signal when the reaction is complete. By measuring the amount of sodium hydroxide used, the students calculated the concentration of the acids and determined the composition of each solution.
The investigation demonstrates how the Summer Programs course combines advanced scientific theory with practical laboratory experience, preparing students for future studies in AP Chemistry and beyond.
Photos by Kathleen Connelly