A Muggle’s Guide to Harry Potter’s Chemistry

Download Harry Potter’s Chemistry poster to share!

In 2011, University of Nebraska–Lincoln chemistry professor Rebecca Lai was contemplating how to attract more students to the sciences. She had just reread the entire Harry Potter series and it occurred to her: What if she designed a course around the books’ potions and spells?

Thus was born the honors class — A Muggle’s Guide to Harry Potter’s Chemistry. This presentation will cover various elements in our world that are also in Harry Potter’s world, including gold (Au), silver (Ag), mercury (Hg), aluminum (Al), and silicon (Si). The focus will be on the use of these elements in the wizarding world when compared to our world.