The Harry Potter phenomenon sparked a fascination with magic among American people and Jane Snell Copes author of The Chemical Wizardry of Harry Potter wants us to know that we too can recreate some of the magical happenings in the books and movies. There are several instances where science is applied in the Harry Potter universe such as; the mechanics of wands, colored flames, and magical ink and paper. Each of these magical events have a scientific explanation and can be recreated in real life, allowing all muggles to harness some magic.
Colored flames and lights are a huge part of the magical effects described in the books and portrayed in the movie. These colored reactions show the spell is effective and also sets each one apart from the other. Copes explains, “Both the commercial fireworks industry and traditional qualitative flame tests rely on vibrant colors produced when metal salts are heated to incandescence…”(Copes 1). This is the beginning of an explanation behind how different colored lights and flames are achieved. There is a table provided in the article that lists natural elements and metals that give off a specific color when lit on fire. This can allow for just about anyone to recreate the effect from the wizarding world and they can produce their own “spells”. I think it is interesting that there is a real life way to make these things happen, it goes to show that J.K. Rowling may have done her research while writing her series, knowing her audience could make her magic come to life.
Another link between the wizarding world and science are the wands that the wizards use to create their magic. Wands produce an end product of a spell and without them, the wizard cannot cast their magic on anything, except for maybe when making a potion. This suggests that there is a process that happens between the time that a wizard casts a spell and when it gets released from the wand itself. Copes goes on to say that, “Every wizard needs a magic wand, just as every chemist needs a stirring rod (perhaps with catalytic particles attached)…” (Copes 1). As I suggested before, Copes describes the wand as a catalyst for magic, it is essentially how the “finished product” or spell is dispersed. This is the same thing that happens during a chemical reaction; two things are combined and usually they react to one another or there is a third source that causes the reaction (stirring something, applying heat etc.). These real life concepts are able to be applied to all of these magical concepts which continues to prove that magic may be achievable for us muggles too.
Other magical materials that appear in the Wizarding World are things such as, enchanted quills, Marauder’s Map, and the magical appearing ink depicted in the movies. All of these occurrences seem impossible but Copes tells us that,” Many invisible inks can be concocted with kitchen ingredients. Most of the effects are not reversible, although they are charming nonetheless…”(Copes 2). So this magical effect can be recreated in our own homes and there is once again, a logical explanation. Copes once again provides a table of several accessible materials can make color-changing and/or disappearing ink. Substances as simple as lemon juice or baking soda can create these effects of they are prepared correctly. If we can attain these abilities, it suggests that we are capable of more than we think as mere muggles.
Science is a concept that everyone learns about in some point in their life. At some point, everyone asks “when will I even use this?” and Copes has given us the answer to that question. The magic of Harry Potter can be brought to life if we use simple, everyday items and apply fairly simple concepts and scientific methods. It goes to show that we have more potential power than we think we do as “ordinary” humans. It turns out that a lot of our general knowledge can be considered to be magic.