Workshops

Holiday workshops: Spectacular colour chemistry (ages 12–14)

Discover what a colour actually is, understand how objects become coloured, and how Chemists can manipulate these aspects to produce dyes.

Image credit: Katherine Leedale

In this workshop students will discover what a colour actually is, understand how objects become coloured, and how chemists can manipulate these aspects to produce dyes and pigments.

The session will begin with a brief overview of light and colour mixing. This leads on to a discussion of how colour arises through removal of specific wavelengths of light, and both additive and subtractive colour mixing. The students then discover how chemical bonding can lead to colour, and they produce both natural and synthetic dyes. The final part of the workshop pitches the students against a ‘real-life’ analytical chemistry scenario during which they will devise their own experiment using aspects of concentration, pH and colourimetry to solve a colourful problem.

About the Urenco Young Scientist Centre

The Urenco Young Scientist Centre (UYSC) is an imaginative science laboratory in the Ri, where young people can experience and explore science outside of the classroom. 

In a UYSC workshop, students become a scientist for the day, exploring science through hands-on experiments. They are encouraged to engage in scientific discovery through curiosity-driven learning. 

In our workshops, students are encouraged to use a range of scientific skills including: making observations, collecting data, analysing results, in addition to teamwork and communication skills. 

Just as in the best research laboratories, students have access to advanced technology and techniques outside the normal school curriculum, making this a science trip to remember. 

For any queries regarding this workshop please get in touch by phone 020 7409 2992 or email events@ri.ac.uk.

This workshop is strictly for 12-14 year-olds and will include a 30 minute lunch break. Students should bring lunch and a drink. We reserve the right to refund or deny entry to those who are not in this age range.

Refunds can only be issued for tickets cancelled at least two weeks (14 calendar days) in advance of the event date. Please note that this supersedes our normal event terms and conditions. Please also note that Eventbrite adds a small booking fee to the amount paid for each ticket option.

Covid guidelines

Face masks are no longer mandatory and wearing one in our Theatre and at other Ri events is at your discretion, however please do not attend the Ri if you are displaying Covid symptoms or, if you have tested, the result remains positive. Thank you for respecting other people and their choices, and for helping us keep all of our visitors and staff safe and well.

Event terms and conditions