Chemistry for the visually impaired that can be felt, heard and smelt
The Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, recently brought chemistry alive for students with sight loss
Chemistry came alive in a reimagined form at the 75th Yusuf Hamied Chemistry Camp for Visually Challenged Students, hosted at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, where curiosity met accessibility, making way for a day filled with amazed gasps and hands-on discovery.
Whether it’s the vibrant red and green flames of strontium and barium salts during a flame test or the striking ‘golden rain’ formed by the reaction between lead nitrate (Pb(NO₃)₂) and potassium iodide (KI), the visual drama of chemical reactions is often what captivates students. The very spectacle that makes chemistry so appealing can also become a significant barrier, shutting visually impaired students out of the full experience while leaving educators grappling with how to make the subject accessible to everyone.