Botanic Garden Chemistry Audio Tour

Thank you for exploring the Botanic Garden with our group of plant loving chemists.

One small part of the plant kingdom makes a different type of pigment to all the rest.

How plants manage to photosynthesise in extreme environments.

Why chlorophyll and hence plants, looks green.

How chemistry can change the colour of dye molecules from plants.

Hear about natures natural nitrogen fixers.

Why nitrogen is important to plants and the communities of microorganisms living in the soil.

Why the Katsura tree smells of caramel and how analytical techniques have solved the problem of what is responsible for the smell.

Many modern medicines are derived from plants.

The notorious history of healing molecules. Many molecules from plants can be used as medicines but are also toxic if the dose is too large.