“Spectroscopy in an Envelope” (SIAE) is a new initiative between the University of Strathclyde and the Royal Society of Chemistry to provide free spectroscopy kits to remote or rural Scottish schools, specifically those with reduced access to university chemistry departments due to their location. Schools which have attended a previous instance of the West of Scotland meeting for Teachers of Chemistry may also have a kit.  This page hosts online resources that accompany the SIAE kit.

If you are not currently eligible to receive a free kit, you may be able to buy one from us - please get in touch for more details.

Each SIAE kit consists of:

• Two bagged spectrometers
• Two laser-cut cuvette racks
• A voltmeter and leads

There are also a number of printed and video resources that accompany each SIAE kit:

Spectroscopy in an Envelope - Box Insert
The descriptive sheet that comes inside every SIAE kit box.

Unboxing and first use video.
This video goes through some of the things you’ll need to do when first receiving your kit to get it set up for first use, mostly only useful for teachers and technicians.

Colourimeter Combined Instructions printout
This set of instructions comes inside every bagged spectrometer.

Spectrometer assembly video.
This video goes through how to assemble and use the actual spectrometer.

Blank pupil paper worksheet
A printout that can be used to structure the collection and analysis of data, when used alongside the “Colourimeter Combined Instructions” sheet.

Sample competed pupil worksheet
As above, with sample data

Data analysis spreadsheet
A spreadsheet which takes data and performs all of the required calculations.

All downloadable resources SIAE

Resources released on this project are copyright the University of Strathclyde and may not be re-used without permission. See our copyright pages for more information.