Social Activities
Laboratory Classes on the Wonders of Chemistry
The Laboratory Classes on the Wonders of Chemistry is one of the activities that the Mitsui Chemicals Group is promoting globally to contribute to society using chemical technology, to coexist with local communities, and to develop the next generation of human resources, in accordance with the Social Activities Policy.
Since 2006, we have organized various types of classes, from off-site classes, whereby members of staff from each of our sites go out to local schools, summer vacation events and festivals, to those held during tours round our works and research centers.
Taking into account the interests and opinions of the participants, the Laboratory Class topics are determined and developed by the Head Office and the Sodegaura Center. Relevant business divisions at the Head Office produce manuals on laboratory content and management and provide support for events organized at various Group sites in Japan and other countries. Additionally, leaflets that encourage children who have participated in laboratory experiments to take a more in-depth look at chemicals used at home have been published in response to external expert recommendations and these are being distributed to participants.
The program has also been registered as a group supporting the Saturday Educational Activities Program sponsored by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
Delivery Laboratory Classes
In fiscal 2022, we held delivery laboratory classes for the Wonders of Chemistry.
This table is scrollable.
Month of implementation | Target | Description |
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June | Kobe Junior Chamber of Commerce and Industry sponsored event "Become a Great Doctor of Science! Dive into a World of Wonders!" (Participants:61 people) |
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3rd grade students from elementary schools near Sodegaura Center (Participants :69 students) |
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August | "Dream Challenge Experience School (Science School)" sponsored by the Chiba Prefectural Education Agency (Participants :9 people) |
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"Otake Ranran College Summer School" hosted by Otake City Board of Educations (Participants :37 people) |
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[China] Children enrolled in the Hozo Hut (Participants :30 students) |
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October | Takaishi Chamber of Commerce and Industry sponsored event "Takaishi Commerce and Industry Festival" (Participants :158 people) |
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Ichihara Works Autumn Festival (Participants :approx. 140 people) |
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"Science Festival for Youth 2022" organized by Iwakuni Science Center (Participants :18 people) |
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November | Cultural festival organized by the Anesaki Community Center (Participants :60 people) |
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Sodegaura Center Neighborhood Elementary School (Participants :Sixth grade students (3 times total, about 175 students)) |
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December | 1st year junior high school students attending a training course organized by the Mobara Rotary Club (Participants :11 students) |
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(2023) March | Ichihara Works Neighborhood Children's School Senior kindergarten students (Participants :30 students) |
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*Bincho charcoal: Charcoal from ubame oak (Quercus phillyraeoides)
Online Laboratory Classes
Since fiscal 2021, we have been conducting a new online style of laboratory classes. The events were well received by the participants, who commented: "While various events were canceled due to COVID-19, I could enjoy it safely from home” and “It was an enlightening experiment."
Event name | Target | Description |
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Online Experiment Show [August 2021] | Children of Mitsui Chemicals Group employees | An experiment using the Group’s product ABSORTOMER™ was conducted. |
Online collaboration workshop event on World Water Day between One-Coin Club (WaterAid Japan) and Wonders of Chemistry for children [March 2022] | Children of Mitsui Chemicals Group employees and their friends | A workshop event with the theme of water was held in collaboration with WaterAid Japan, an organization supported by One-Coin Club. |
Delivery Laboratory Classes "Become a Great Doctor of Science! Dive into a World of Wonders!" 2022
On Saturday, June 4, 2022, we exhibited an experimental booth at an event called “Become a Great Doctor of Science! Dive into a World of Wonders!” hosted by the Junior Chamber of Commerce Kobe as part of the Osaka Works Wonders of Chemistry. The purpose of this event was to let children experience the depth and breadth of science through science experiments and to cultivate multifaceted perspectives.
Business site tour by Hozo Hut children - Chemistry and Wonder Laboratory Classes in China
In August 2022, Mitsui Chemicals (China) Management Company Limited (MCCN) organized a tour of MCCN's Technical Center as an out-of-school learning experience for the children of the “Hozo Hut (public service activity)*.” To help children realize that chemistry is something that exists around them, we also held a chemistry laboratory class for the Wonders of Chemistry as part of the tour.
*Hozo Hut (public service activity):
This is a CSR activity in China that donates a portion of the operating costs of facilities that provide supplementary education and out-of-school learning to children of migrant workers who live in the city but do not have the same access to education and welfare as children born and raised in the city. MCCN has supported the facility since 2020.
Laboratory Classes on the Wonders of Chemistry Experiments
*Experiment titles are subject to change.
Experiment title | Description |
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Slime - Making your own slime - Making jumbo slime together - Shiny slime - Slime ball | FieldPolymer properties By making "slime" (i.e. cross-linking polyvinyl alcohol with water using borax), participants learn that water can be confined and about the gels around us in our everyday lives |
Light experiments with polarizing plate | FieldLight Participants learn about the passage of light through a kaleidoscope fitted with a polarizing plate that converts natural light into linear light, as used in mobile phones and other such devices |
Chromatography art | FieldAdsorption and separation Participants learn that the ink in a water-based pen contains a mixture of various different colors (pigments) |
Plastic board | FieldPolymer properties Participants learn about the properties and separation of plastics, by using the heat shrinkable properties of polystyrene to make their own original accessories |
Let’s make Cartesian divers! | FieldBuoyancy Participants learn about buoyancy and pressure, by making a Cartesian diver from a PET bottle and a plastic soy sauce container |
Let’s investigate the properties of aqueous solutions using red cabbage | FieldAcids and alkalis Using anthocyanin extracted from red cabbage, participants investigate the properties of everyday liquids and learn about acids and alkalis |
Let’s make an air freshener using spongy polymers | FieldPolymer properties Related Group productsNonwoven fabrics Participants learn about the principle of water retention, by making an air freshener from a water-absorbing polymer, as used in disposable diapers, gardening supplies and other such products |
Let’s make a rainbow tower | FieldSpecific gravity Participants learn about the specific gravity (relative density) of fluids, by pouring colored waters with varying concentrations together to make a tower |
Let's make a freezer! | FieldHeat of solution Related Group productsUrea Participants learn about the principle of heat adsorption via the heat of solution of urea, as used in such products as fertilizer and moisturizing cream |
Learn how bubble bath works! | FieldReaction of acid and salt Participants learn about how carbon dioxide is produced, by making bubble bath from baking soda and citric acid |
Learn about acid rain! | FieldAcids and alkalis, Oxidation / reduction Participants learn about acid rain and what causes it, by measuring the pH using red cabbage extract and conducting a bleaching experiment using iodine |
Let's make paper! | FieldRecycling / Making paper Related Group productsAcrylamide Using everyday implements, participants experience paper recycling from old paper and learn about papermaking and recycling |
Let's make small objects from melted plastic! | FieldPolymer properties Related Group products General thermoplastics Participants learn about the properties of thermoplastics, which melt when heated, by using a glue gun to melt resin and make small objects |
Experience the wonders of shrinking films! | FieldPolymer properties Related Group productsFilms, PET, etc. Participants learn about the principle of heat shrinkage, by using shrinkable film to attach labels and make their own PET bottle |
See the power of air! | FieldHydrodynamics Participants learn about air resistance, by observing air rings emitted from an air cannon |
Let's make snow on pine cones! | FieldCrystals Related Group productsUrea Participants learn about crystal deposition, by observing dissolved urea being sprayed onto pinecones and drying |
Let's make light like a firefly! | FieldEnzymes Participants learn about the difference between bioluminescence and chemiluminescence by making light using each of luciferase enzymes taken from fireflies and using mineral-based chemicals |
Let’s try and absorb oil! | FieldPolymer properties Related Group productsTAFNEL™ Oil Blotter™ Participants learn about the principles and how to use adsorbent materials, by absorbing only the oil from mixed oil and water substances |
Expand? Shrink? Disappear?! Let’s look into the properties of mystery plastics! | FieldPolymer properties Related Group productsABSORTOMER™ Participants learn about the properties of a variety of plastic films, by taking steps to expand, shrink, and dissolve various plastics. They also learn about changes in polymers (plastics) attributable to temperatures |
Let's classify plastics! | FieldPolymer properties Related Group productsPolyethylene (PE), Polypropylene (PP), Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and (Polystyrene (PS)) |