portsmouth abbey news
The Moment it turns Pink: inside Ap Chemistry Lab night
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Chloe Shurr '26 prepping the buret. |
Science and community came together during a recent AP Chemistry Lab Night and pizza party, a tradition that has continued to thrive for the past twenty-five years under established teacher Susan McCarthy. Originally founded by her predecessor, McCarthy continues to carry the event forward, sparking curiosity and a lasting appreciation for chemistry in her students.
Unlike most lab sessions held during regular class hours, this special evening focuses on the acid-base titration lab, the only chemistry experiment that requires students to gather after school. Because titrations can be a lengthy and detailed procedure, the extended time allows students to work more carefully and in a more relaxed, stress-free environment. And, of course, the promise of pizza makes the experience even more amusing.
On April 17, fifteen AP Chemistry students gathered around the lab tables to explore acid-base titration, gaining firsthand experience with equilibrium stoichiometry of strong acids and bases. Fueled with slices of cheese and pepperoni pizza, students geared up for their evening of experimentation – prepared their burets and equipment, calculated solution volumes, added a color-changing phenolphthalein indicator, and gradually introduced the known solution, the titrant, into the unknown solution, the titrand. The goal: quantitatively determine the concentration of the titrand. Drop by drop, students swirled their solutions to achieve the signature pale pink endpoint that signals equilibrium. Too much titrant and the solution changes bright pink, too little titrant and the solution remains clear.
Beyond the technical skills, the evening offered something equally valuable. Students had the chance to connect, collaborate, share ideas and bond over their common interest in chemistry. The informal setting fostered both collaboration and confidence.
The AP Chemistry Lab Night remains a meaningful blend of intellectual challenge and community spirit, making it a memorable and enriching experience for generations year after year.
Left to right: Stella Park '27, Erica Kim '27, Mrs. Susan McCarthy, Panya Zhu '27 and JJ Servidea '27.
