Young chemists put skills to the test

Toowoomba's young scientists proved their ability at the annual Titration competition held at the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) on Saturday 24 May 2008.

13 teams of year ten, eleven and twelve students from Chinchilla State High School, St Ursula's College, St Saviours College, The Glennie School, Toowoomba Christian College, St Mary's College and St Joseph's College in Stanthorpe competed in the competition, with St Ursula's College taking first and second place.

Coordinator of the competition Senior Lecturer in Chemistry Dr Tania van den Ancker said this year's entrants were outstanding.

'The kids this year did an excellent job,' Dr van den Ancker said.

'50 per cent of the kids that entered got a result within 0.5 per cent of the true value.'

Titration is a chemical technique where the concentration of a specific chemical is deduced from a solution presented.

'It's a chemical analysis where you have something you know and work out something you don't know.'

The winning team, comprised of three grade ten girls, will join second and third place recipients to compete in the national finals in October.

'Every year we have teams from Toowoomba go to the national finals and they do quite well.

'We've won the Queensland competition several times.'

The competition is a great way to promote academic talent and the skills of the students, Dr van den Ancker said.

'It is a way to show academic talent and students' skills in precision and accuracy in chemical techniques.

'The students volunteer for the competition. They really enjoy it. A lot of effort is put in by teachers and the school community as well,' she said.

Media Contact: Jane Urquhart USQ Media +61 7 4631 2559