can·gian·te /kanʲˈʤa nte/
Noun: An artistic technique characterized by the change of a hue into a different, lighter one when the original cannot be made light enough or the change to a darker hue when the original hue cannot be made dark enough
“Um...” Axel said, “I have zinc ions in my solution...”
His Chemistry teacher nodded. “Go on.”
“I also have thiocyanate anions.”
“Two out of three. Get the last one right and you’re free to go.”
Axel fidgeted before taking a deep breath. “...Ammonia ions?”
Ms. Cortes shook her head. “You were so close, Axel, so close.” She said. “That was your second strike, right? You have one chance left. Use it well.”
Frustrated, Axel walked back to his spot in the lab.
He and his classmates were in the middle of a quantitative analysis of ions in solutions when Ms. Cortes presented the unnamed test tubes to the class. When the test tubes were set down, there was a mad rush for the blue-coloured fluids. Axel remembered vaguely that they contained copper ions, but his chance of getting an easy point was snatched from him by a stealthier classmate. C’est la vie, he had thought as he picked test tube containing a honey-coloured fluid.
Forty-five minutes and two mistakes later, Axel found himself cursing his luck.
Once he returned to his seat, Axel discovered that some precipitates had already formed at the bottom of his test tubes. He couldn’t help but panic; did someone contaminate his sample?
“Are you all right, Axel?” Beatrice asked as she took off her goggles. Beatrice was one of the few people who managed to get their ions right on the first try.
Axel nodded. “Just a bit annoyed, that’s all. Whenever I think I got my ions right, something goes wrong. I already used up my second guess. And someone may or may not have contaminated my sample.”
“It’s all or nothing for you now, huh?” Amica spoke as she adjusted her hijab beside Beatrice. “Don’t worry; I don’t think anyone messed up your sample. Have you tried looking for nitrate ions in it?”
“I did, but I didn’t see a brown ring like the lab manual said I should.” Axel sighed.
Beatrice looked at Ms. Cortes to see if she was occupied. Once she confirmed that the teacher wasn’t looking at them, she turned back to Axel, “You don’t have to wait for a brown ring to form.” She whispered. “Just acidify your sample, add five drops of ferrous sulphate and two drops of sulphuric acid, then see if the solution heats up. I did my research prior to this experiment so I know, but don’t tell anyone, all right?”
Axel smiled. “Thanks.” This was exactly why everyone liked Beatrice; she was smart and kind. Furthermore, she’s very petite and good-looking, and at least a third of the boys in their class had admitted in having a crush on her. As he watched Beatrice comb out her curls from the corner of his eye, he didn’t have to wonder why.
No, now’s not the time to get distracted, Axel thought as he focused on his test solution.
After a somewhat satisfying outcome in the lab, Axel went to the library to try and find some books about Asian history. He spent the first few minutes looking through the shelves before giving up and heading to some of the bean bags that a couple of thoughtful alumni donated to the school. He saw a young woman sitting on of them, reading one of the books he was looking for.
YOU ARE READING
Deciphering Patterns
Teen Fiction“What is a 'feeling'?" He asked her. "How do you know if you have one?" All that Axel wants to do is draw. It seems that fate has other plans.
