Reflections on Particulart

Clare has written a blog post reflecting on the development of Particulart, from the initial spark of an idea in conversation with Diana to the exhibition in Real Food, and the responses it provoked both in her and the visitors to the exhibition. We hope you enjoy the read.

Last night, at somewhat short notice, Clare also gave a St Michael’s Lecture, entitled “Particulart, or the art of knitting, chemistry, meditation and gentle protest”. She liked the title so much, she changed the strapline of this website.

Comments – “Particulart”

An independent café, where time is slowed and the audience is relaxed, is the ideal location for an encounter with a bunch of knitted chemistry with a message. Here are a few of the comments and tweets we received:

I do like a bit of #knitted art over coffee.

I was drinking my tea at Real Food, when I noticed a knitted particle on the table, then I realised I was surrounded by organic chemistry.

Had a sneak preview. Looks amazing. Do go along and see something you will never have seen before.

I wish I could adequately describe how happy I am that knitted molecular chains are an actual thing.

Diana and I invited the Incinerator’s Liaison Committee to our launch, which led to one of the most positive responses we had to the exhibition. One of the subcontractors told us they were used to attending ‘shouty’ aggressive protests, which did little beyond alienating them. Our gentle protest made him much more interested in engaging, and he liked the potential for educating the public.

Pattern – “A Stitch in Time”

Download this pattern as a pdf

See also the patterns for the atoms and bonds between atoms.

Colours

Hydrogen
Carbon
Oxygen
Nitrogen
Fluorine
Chlorine
Sulphur
White
Black
Red
Sky blue
Light green
Medium green
Deep yellow

Particles

Carbon dioxide

CO2

 

Atoms

1 carbon
2 oxygen

Bonds

4 carbon-oxygen

Nitrous oxide

N2O-1

 

Atoms

2 nitrogen
1 oxygen

Bonds

2 nitrogen
2 nitrogen-oxygen

Alternative version
3 nitrogen
1 nitrogen-oxygen

Water vapour

H2O

 

Atoms

2 hydrogen
1 oxygen

Bonds

2 hydrogen-oxygen

Methane

CH4

 

Atoms

1 carbon
4 hydrogen

Bonds

4 carbon-hydrogen

Tetrafluoromethane (PFC-14)

CF4

 

Atoms

1 carbon
4 fluorine

Bonds

4 carbon-fluorine

Fluoroform (HFC-23)

CHF3

 

Atoms

1 carbon
1 hydrogen
3 fluorine

Bonds

1 carbon-hydrogen
3 carbon-fluorine

Trichlorofluoromethane (CFC-11)

CCl3F

 

Atoms

1 carbon
3 chlorine
1 fluorine

Bonds

3 carbon-chlorine
1 carbon-fluorine

1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134a)

CH2FCF3

 

Atoms

2 carbon
2 hydrogen
4 fluorine

Bonds

1 carbon
2 carbon-hydrogen
4 carbon-fluorine

Sulphur hexafluoride

SF6

 

Atoms

1 sulphur
6 fluorine

Bonds

6 sulphur-fluorine

Water vapour

H2O

Molar mass 18.01528 g/mol

Water vapour is the most important greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, needed for life. Water is constantly cycling through the atmosphere. Its concentration depends on temperature and weather patterns, and varies a lot across the globe and through the year.