Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Colin Johnson gives a talk entitled “Recreational Chemistry: Three Centuries of Chemical Amusement”. This talk was given on Tuesday 16 December 2025.
The approach of Christmas is a good time to reflect on chemistry as fun. This talk explores some historical examples of chemistry being practised as a hobby, or for the entertainment of others. It will feature three fascinating individuals from the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries – just one of whom is well-known. Alongside this will be a look at the evolution of home chemistry books and the chemistry sets that followed. If time permits there will be one or two 21st century examples of ‘chemistry for leisure’, and we will end by finding a couple of chemistry items specially devised for the Festive Season.
Colin Johnson gives a talk entitled “Recreational Chemistry: Three Centuries of Chemical Amusement”. This talk was given on Tuesday 16 December 2025.
The approach of Christmas is a good time to reflect on chemistry as fun. This talk explores some historical examples of chemistry being practised as a hobby, or for the entertainment of others. It will feature three fascinating individuals from the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries – just one of whom is well-known. Alongside this will be a look at the evolution of home chemistry books and the chemistry sets that followed. If time permits there will be one or two 21st century examples of ‘chemistry for leisure’, and we will end by finding a couple of chemistry items specially devised for the Festive Season.
