CHEMISTRY students were able to get to grips with some of the latest industry technology during Royal Society of Chemistry ‘Spectroscopy in a Suitcase’ workshops.

A-Level and BTEC Applied Science students at South Cheshire College worked with an infra-red spectrometer and used thin layer chromatography techniques to analyse paracetamol.

Students followed instructions to prepare paracetamol themselves before testing its purity using both techniques.

It gave students the opportunity to work with high-tech expensive pieces of equipment provided by the university which students don’t have access to in college.

Paracetamol is a painkiller which is used to relive mild or moderate pain in people of all ages.

The sessions were delivered by BSc and Masters students from the University of Manchester’s Chemistry department, funded by the Royal Society of Chemistry, who have completed Chemistry degrees.

Dr Katayune Presland, who helped to deliver the workshops, is the north west education co-ordinator for the Royal Society of Chemistry and also works at the University of Manchester one day a week.

Dr Presland said: “This was our latest visit to South Cheshire College to deliver these workshops which gave students the opportunity to handle specialist equipment which can help them on their Chemistry course.

“The infra-red spectroscopy equipment is very expensive and is used by students at the University of Manchester.

“These were hands-on sessions and all the students responded very well. We look forward to working with the College again in the future.”

The visit was organised by South Cheshire College Chemistry Lecturer Neil Hewitt.

Neil said: “Visits like these give students the chance to work with post graduates in the Chemistry field and use specialist equipment which they don’t have access to at college.

“We are very grateful to the Royal Society of Chemistry funding this visit and to University of Manchester for delivering these sessions in college and students have benefited greatly from them.”