Posted on Nov 1, 2007

Senior Chemistry Major and Chemistry Club Outreach Coordinator Monica Tse ’08 demonstrates a combustion reaction that creates a fireball emanating from the mouth of a Jack-o’-Lantern.

The Union College Chemistry Club engaged in a number of activities last week for National Chemistry Week, whose theme was “The Many Faces of Chemistry.”

In an event hosted by the Eastern New York section of the American Chemical Society, club members conducted a day-long outreach at the New York State Museum in Albany. Using fluorescent face paints and luminescent glow sticks, they set up a dark room where students could explore the fluorescent properties of the face paints. More than 400 children and their families participated.

On campus Tuesday, Oct. 23, club members celebrated with a demonstration outside Reamer Campus Center. They chose 10/23 because it was also “Mole Day,” so named because one mole (Avogadro’s number) equals 6.02 x 10^23, and they conducted a combustion reaction that causes fireballs to emanate from the mouth of jack ’o lanterns. Students, faculty and staff learned about the chemical reaction creating the fireball, and a group of visiting high school students from New York City (in the Bridge to Medicine program) joined in.

Chemistry Club members also visited Lincoln Elementary School in Schenectady as part of a hands-on, day-long outreach (featured in last week’s Chronicle) organized by Priscilla Scaife, widow of the late Prof. Charles Scaife. Another contingent of students participated in Science Night at Lincoln, which featured workshops for students and their families.

This marked the 20th year for National Chemistry Week, an initiative of the American Chemical Society.