Fire and Ice chemistry show to be held this Saturday

The department of chemistry will present Fire and Ice, a demonstration of extreme temperatures, for the first time since 2007.

The demonstration is free to the public and will be held in Wetherill Hall, Room 200, from 11 a.m. to noon. The chemistry show will demonstrate the effects of extreme hot and cold temperatures through the use of fire and liquid nitrogen.

Its interesting because liquid nitrogen is so much colder than what we experience in our normal lives and temperatures here on the planet, said Paul Smith, director of lecture demonstrations for the department of chemistry. You can tell (the audience) the number (-194 degrees Celsius) but when they see the effect, it really communicates super cold.

Liquid nitrogen will be used in, according to Smith, close to a dozen things during the demonstration, using the super cold substance to determine the effect it has on objects such as racquet balls or water balloons.

To demonstrate the effects of extreme heat on different things, a lot of fire will be used, according to Smith. In order to heat up things during the presentation, a hot plate or open flame will be used.

The department of chemistry has made a tradition of the annual fall chemistry show spanning over the past 30 years. The Fire and Ice subject has not been used since 2007, and Smith said that it adheres with the goal of connecting the department to the public while offering a new experience for those in attendance.

Nyemade Harmon, a senior in the College of Agriculture and one of the four assistants aiding Smith with the show, said the show is helpful in that it attempts to bridge the gap between people with a chemistry background and people who have limited knowledge of the subject.

Harmon said, Even if you dont have a lot of chemistry experience or youre not a huge fan of chemistry itself, I think this is a show that anyone could enjoy going to.

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Fire and Ice chemistry show to be held this Saturday