By Bo Min Zhou
Members of the Chandler Society for Undergraduate Chemistry at Columbia University celebrated the annual National Chemistry Week in early November. Mindful of their mission, to dispel the myth that chemistry is an esoteric subject unrelated to everyday life, the group designed demonstrations that conveyed the fun and excitement about chemistry, as well as its widespread application that has made so many things in modern life possible. Among the many interesting demonstrations was the Ethanol-Oxygen Rocket. A bottle filled with oxygen and ethanol was placed on top of a stick. The bottle was lifted to mid-air once it was ignited. The purpose of this demonstration was to show the "triangle of fire," as University of Pittsburg Professor Henry Bent stated. For metabolic reactions to occur as well as to burn things, one needs three things: a fuel, an oxidizer, and heat or activation. In the rocket experiment, ethanol is the fuel, oxygen the oxidizer, and the match the activation. All three things have to be present at the same time or else things won't burn. A follow-up demonstration of the ethanol-oxygen rocket experiment was the magnesium and dry ice presentation. Here, magnesium was filled into a hole in the middle of a block of dry ice. Another dry ice block was placed on top of it to prevent oxygen from entering. Despite the lack of oxygen, which was essential for combustion, the magnesium was able to burn brightly after ignition. This phenomenon was possible because magnesium wanted oxygen so eagerly that it took oxygen from dry ice (carbon dioxide). As a result, the dry ice was reduced to a black carbon residue after the burning. Other demonstrations included the Freezing Power of Liquid Nitrogen, Propane Inferno, Potassium Chlorate Pellet and Phosphorus Solution, and the Unburning Towels.
The demonstration entitled "What the Hell is Chemistry?" was inspired by University Provost Jonathan Cole, who raised this question in a convention with a group of chemists last year. The demonstration was open to the public. The audience of 150 to 200 people was made up of local middle school and high school students, Columbia undergraduates, graduate students and faculty members.
All demonstrations were designed by members of the Chandler Society under the supervision of a special guest, Professor Henry Bent. Besides the chemistry demonstrations, the Chandler Society also distributed T-shirts, caps, colorful periodic tables, and illustrative literature as part of the celebration of National Chemistry Week.
Publicizing chemistry will not end with this occasion. There will be similar events in the spring. The Chandler Society also sponsors other events throughout the year. Membership in Chandler Society is open to all students at Columbia, including Engineering and Barnard students. "The Society is not limited to students from Columbia College or chemistry majors... We welcome anyone with an interest in chemistry to join." said David Leung, President of the Chandler Society.
From pg. 1+ of The Moment, 7 Dec. 1994