Discover the evolution of explosive chemical experiments, with the maestro of chemistry Andrew Szydlo.

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This Discourse was recorded at the Ri on 29 February 2024.

Go on a journey with Andrew's dazzling demonstrations and experiments, interspersed with anecdotes from his life to show a glimpse behind the curtain of this enigmatic man.



Safety disclaimer: Andrew Szydlo is an expert, trained chemist who has performed these experiments hundreds of times. He has chosen them carefully to fit the Ri Theatre, and has assessed all risks in advance. Please do not try these experiments at home!



You'll find out more about Andrew's past exploits, including:

1. A daring and "strictly banned" experiment involving the explosive mixture of sodium hypophosphite and potassium chlorate at Latymer Upper School in 1966, resulting in a resounding detonation that reverberated through the entire building. The experiment aims to illustrate the stark contrast between this forbidden concoction and conventional black powder.

2. An unforgettable escapade in 1982, when he tossed sizable lumps of sodium down a drain in Exeter, later transformed into a demonstrative experiment involving the controlled use of sodium pieces submerged in a waterfilled Perspex tube.

3. A spectacular chemistry lecture at Cambridge University in 2012, where a tennis ball fired from a mortar blasted a hole through the ceiling of the Myers Squibb Lecture theatre. This momentous event was part of a lecture titled "Fireworks and Waterworks."

4. A thrilling endeavour in 1981, when a mixture of acetylene and oxygen was detonated in a school playing field using a dustbin liner. The shockwave caused the windows of a nearby boarding house to shake, prompting the housemaster to investigate the aftermath, only to find a gaping crater.

5. A runin with the authorities in Epping Forest in 1980, stemming from the conduct of oversized chemical conflagrations involving butane gas canisters, weedkiller, and sugar. This incident led to the development of a fascinating experiment that demonstrates the ignition of a mixture of icing sugar and potassium chlorate using a drop of concentrated sulphuric acid.

6. A shift in the trajectory of his demonstrations in 1990, when the headmaster of Highgate School banned explosive chemical displays. Inspired by a passionate pupil, Ian Cohen, who had an affinity for magic, Dr. Szydlo transitioned his explosive talks into "Flower Power" magic shows, delivering the same excitement on a grander scale.


Andrew Szydlo is a chemist and secondary school teacher at Highgate School, wellloved by pupils and Ri attendees alike. He has given public lectures around the country, been featured on TV shows and has become a popular part of the Ri's YouTube channel in recent years, where his videos have over 16 million views in total.

During the past 40 years he has given over 500 talks, in addition to teaching chemistry fulltime at Highgate School in London. Today he is still based at Highgate School, delivering chemistry lectures to local schools.

The Royal Society of Chemistry included Andrew as one of their 175 Faces of Chemistry.



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