Chemistry Projects
Glucose Test Strips
September 2017 - December 2017
A simple, portable and inexpensive method of measuring blood glucose was devised as part of the design challenge for EID101 Engineering Design class.
In collaboration with M. Nguyen, N. Teplitskiy, P. Serodio, E. Frank, S. Paidipati, and Y. Ofek, we designed a test strip.
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An enzyme along with iodine and starch react to turn a shade of brown dependent on the amount of glucose present.
Dichromate Synthesis
February 2016 - August 2017
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My first real design of a chemical reaction pathway for synthesis involving many iterations and optimizations of the process was the conversion of old stainless steel cutlery to dichromate.
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Dichromate, a toxic orange salt is used in electroplating, glass cleaning in the laboratory and electrolysis. It was needed in other projects.
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Synthesis of Iodate
August 2017
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Iodate, a treatment for radiation poisoning can be made from domestic chemicals. Also it is needed for a future project that I had planned.
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This synthesis required many precursors namely, chlorate, dichromate and sources of iodine such as iodine tincture.
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Iodine is actually somewhat expensive, so losses were costly during this process.
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Below is a short clip of the main reaction to form the iodate.
Chlorate Electrolysis
November 2016 - August 2017
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The first serious chemical synthesis I carried out involving calculations, modelling reactions, and preparing precursors was the preparation of chlorate.
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Salt water had electricity passed through it for a month to form then chlorate which was then processed and purified.
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The challenge is that equipment must be homemade and real lab techniques improvised in lieu of a limited setup.
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Crystal Growing
September 2015 - August 2017
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Getting my first crystal growing kit at a young age, I grew so many crystals I ran out of the chemicals provided.
When I grew older, I made the chemicals myself from aluminum foil and drain opener.
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I grew many more crystals which soon became decorations and ornaments.
Color Changing Reactions
August 2017
The iodine clock reaction, a beautiful abrupt color changing reaction from clear to black-blue was made using vitamin C tablets and tincture of iodine.
Another interesting but more obscure color changing reaction, the chemical chameleon was made.
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This reaction (second video) changes from purple to green then to yellow.
Throughout the process a manner of making the precursors necessary was explored.
Gas Experiments
May 2008, August 2015
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My first step into chemistry aside from baking soda and vinegar was making hydrogen gas from magnesium metal and vinegar.
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When I gained more experience and the know how, other gases, like chlorine and iodine and their properties were explored.