NEW DELHI: An attempt was made to set a new world record for the largest practical science lesson by 2,000 schoolchildren from Delhi and the NCR region here.

The event, jointly organised by Vijnana Bharati (VIBHA) and the ministries of Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, at IIT Delhi was held as part of the 5th India International Science Festival (IISF) 2015.

Fifty students of Class 9 to 12 each were drawn from 40 government and private schools to set the Guinness World Record.

Students conducted two science practicals, both related to catalysis, a process that makes chemical reactions faster without any additional input of energy and is extensively used in manufacturing some 90 percent products used in the world today.

A major feature of the exercise was 'Elephant Tooth Experiment' in which hydrogen peroxide underwent catalytic decomposition in the presence of iodide, resulting in the liberation of a large amount of oxygen and foaming up to resemble a giant toothpaste being squeezed.

The other experiment was discolouration of methylene blue by hydrogen peroxide.

Shobit Ranjan, a student from Amity International School, Saket, said: "After a demonstration was given to us, we completed the experiment within 5 minutes. It's a different thrill to take part in such events and conduct experiments on our own."

Jyoti Francis, a physics teacher from Salwan Public School,Delhi, said this would encourage girls to enter the field of science. "Such experiments should be demonstrated in the schools as well."

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