Satna (MP), Sept 15
College students of a authorities college within the Satna district of Madhya Pradesh have ready eco-friendly Ganesha idols of their chemistry lab from potash alum, a water purifying chemical compound, to unfold the message of “science for setting”.
The group of eight college students from the Venkat Larger Secondary Excellence Faculty No 1 struck on the concept final week throughout their class with their chemistry trainer Dr Ramanuj Pathak.
The idols, about 1.5 ft tall, have been moulded and ready on Ganesh Chaturthi day on September 10.
“We have been discussing within the class about how idols, statues product of plaster of paris and paint pollute the setting and injury the ecosystem after immersion. It was then that we determined to place science into motion and therefore the concept to create eco-friendly Ganesha idols of alum in our chemistry laboratory took place,” Pathak mentioned.
Pottasium alum or just known as alum is a water air purifier and a double-salt chemical compound which not solely purifies water but additionally leaves no dangerous residue. Alum additionally has antiseptic properties and a number of medicinal makes use of, he mentioned.
“After we immerse idols product of alum into water our bodies they don’t seem to be polluted however as a substitute cleansed,” Pathak mentioned. These comprised of plaster of paris are onerous and insoluble in water as they’ve calcium sulphate and find yourself polluting and choking the water physique.
Even idols product of clay are adorned with wooden, varnish, paint, fodder, paper and different gadgets which aren’t eco-friendly and soiled the water, he mentioned.
The scholars have now put in the idol created by them within the chemistry lab and plan to immerse it on the Ganesha ‘visarjan’ day.
“We began the experiment with first heating the alum on the fuel burner within the lab and melting it in glass beakers. It was later cooled and put in a forged product of moist flour,” Pranshu Gautam, a scholar, mentioned.
The academics on the college knowledgeable that potash alum melts at 92 levels Celsius and begins boiling round 120 levels Celsius. It’s then allowed to chill for about half-hour after which liquid alum is put in a forged made within the form of Ganesha.
Pathak mentioned alum may be bought from the market at round Rs 40 per kilogram and one such idol of 1.5-2 ft peak may be made for simply Rs 3.
The crystalline idol seems good even with out utilizing paint or colors, nonetheless, natural colors can be utilized to beautify it, he mentioned.
Pathak mentioned he and his college students want to take this experiment additional and put together Durga idols throughout the upcoming Durga Puja/Dussehra festivities “in order that the message reaches extra folks and everybody can come collectively within the initiative to have fun our festivals with look after the setting.” As soon as profitable, such idols of Ganesha and Durga may be made on a business scale too, he mentioned. PTI
