Blueprint T-Shirts—Student Laboratory Kit

Product Details

Sure to be a student favorite! Use ultraviolet radiation from the sun to produce personalized, one-of-a-kind T-shirts! Photosensitive T-shirts are prepared by soaking white T-shirts in a solution containing two iron salts, ferric ammonium citrate and potassium ferricyanide. The next day, when the shirts are dry, the students place opaque objects on the shirts and then expose them to direct sunlight for about 20 minutes. UV light striking the fabric causes a light-activated redox reaction to occur. Areas exposed to light turn dark blue due to the formation of Prussian blue while areas that are shielded from the UV light do not react and remain white. Rinsing the T-shirt with water removes any unreacted salts and reveals the blueprint—a sharp white imprint of the object on a dark blue background. Includes reproducible student handouts, with detailed background information and complete Teacher Notes with answers to all questions.

Complete for 30 students working individually. White, cotton T-shirts are required but not included.