Botanical Textile Printing: A Creative Approach to Teaching Chemistry in High School

Abstract

In botanical textile printing, pigments from leaves are transferred onto cotton fabric pretreated with a mordant. This process forms chemical bonds between the fabric, mordant, and pigments, resulting in vibrant and durable prints. As part of an educational initiative, the Chemistry Department of the National University of General Sarmiento partnered with its affiliated high school to introduce third- and fourth-year students—many of whom were new to chemistry—to this technique and its underlying principles. Coordinated by university researchers and facilitated by advanced Chemistry and Chemical Engineering students, the project bridged theoretical knowledge and hands-on application. High school participants followed laboratory protocols to explore scientific concepts such as textile fibers, mordants, and chemical bonding while identifying variables that influence outcomes. This activity is an example of how craft techniques can be standardized using the scientific method, even outside a traditional laboratory setting. Students engaged in planning experiments, analyzing results, and drawing conclusions, fostering scientific reasoning, creativity, and critical thinking. The initiative culminated with students producing their own printed fabrics, preparing reports, and taking home tangible outcomes of their learning. By making chemistry accessible, interactive, and relevant, this project highlighted the power of hands-on learning to inspire curiosity and deepen understanding.