Students at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School are getting hands-on experience with advanced scientific equipment thanks to a new spectrophotometer recently added to the chemistry lab. The instrument was made possible through the High School Equipment Grant from the American Chemical Society, which helps schools across the country acquire modern laboratory equipment for student learning.
Spectrophotometers are powerful tools used in chemistry to measure how much light a substance absorbs or allows to pass through it. By analyzing this interaction with light, scientists can gather important information about chemical substances and reactions.
In the OLSH chemistry lab, students recently used the spectrophotometer to conduct an experiment focused on reaction rates. During the lab, students measured how the amount of light absorbed by a solution changed over time as a chemical reaction took place. By collecting and analyzing this data, they were able to determine the speed at which the reaction was occurring.
This type of experiment allows students to move beyond theory and see chemistry concepts in action. Instead of simply learning about reaction rates in a textbook, they can observe and measure the process in real time using professional-grade equipment.
The addition of the spectrophotometer enhances the OLSH science program by giving students access to the same types of tools used in college laboratories and scientific research. Experiences like this help students develop critical thinking, data analysis, and laboratory skills while deepening their understanding of chemistry.
Thanks to the support of the High School Equipment Grant, OLSH students now have even more opportunities to explore science through hands-on experimentation and meaningful discovery in the lab.