Chemistry students get hands-on experience at Princeton University chemistry lab

Stuart’s close proximity to Princeton University provides our students with exceptional opportunities to engage with academic innovation and envision future possibilities for their own work in related fields. Recently, Honors Chemistry students spent a day at Princeton’s chemistry department, hosted by Stuart parent Paul Chirik, the Edwards S. Sanford Professor of Chemistry. The visit began with a lecture on acid-base equilibrium, followed by a discussion with Professor Chirik, where students explored topics such as sustainable chemistry, the medical applications of heavy metals, emerging developments in the field, and the impact of molecular geometry on reaction outcomes. Students then toured the graduate-level laboratories, observing researchers at work and participating in a variety of hands-on experiments. They practiced safe handling of volatile substances, learned to use a distillation apparatus, and experimented with liquid nitrogen to freeze various materials. Highlights also included operating a vacuumless hood and witnessing a molecular crystal being sliced with a razor—an unforgettable demonstration of precision in chemistry research. Students returned to Stuart inspired!