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Article for: The Davis Enterprise
Date: January 9, 2004
Author: Pamela Emery

MORE COOL DEMOS NEXT SATURDAY

The UC Davis Chemistry Club is notorious for its great exhibition at Picnic Day. They are known for sharing some amazing chemistry tricks that involve explosions, fire, and color magic! There is no need to wait until spring, in those long lines, to see chemistry in booming action.

On Saturday, Jan. 17, at Explorit, the Chemistry Club will present some fantastic demonstrations. From 1-3 p.m., watch as the Chemistry Club members freeze objects in liquid nitrogen, make gas bubble explosions and perform wonders with dry ice. Hands-on activities, using household items such as soap and water will also be part of the program.

The word "chemical" sometimes has a negative connotation, but in reality, everything is made of chemicals. 

Chemicals are the building blocks of our planet. Without chemicals, our planet and the life upon it would not exist. There are over 100 elements that build all chemicals. Over the last several hundred years, people realized that how these elements combine together determines the physical and chemical characteristics of the substances. Here is an example:

The most abundant chemical in the human body is H2O, made of the two elements hydrogen and oxygen, and is better known as water. Next Saturday, Chemistry Club members will show how the element hydrogen can cause explosions. These explosions are what fuel some space ships. In space, water is electrolyzed into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen gas is used as an energy source for space transport. The oxygen gas formed during this electrolysis is used by astronauts to breath.

Some might consider hydrogen gas a "dangerous" chemical. If you are an astronaut, however, you might consider this chemical as a necessary source of energy.

The UC Davis Chemistry Club members, says Christopher Enriquez, Club President, "ultimately love chemistry. We have a fundamental love for science, asking questions, and then seeking answers. Being in the Chemistry Club sparks this curiosity in others."

Enriquez believes that people need to understand chemistry so they have a "depth of understanding" about the world around them. "It gives people the tools they need to comprehend huge and microscopic ideas and theories," he added.

Explorit hopes that you take advantage of the program "Extreme Science" next Saturday, which free to members or with paid admission. Davis Waste Removal is the generous sponsor of this event.


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Explorit Science Center is at 3141 5th Street in East Davis. The current exhibition is "Get a Clue! Solving Mysteries with Science," which continues through Mar. 7. Public hours are Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Tuesday through Friday from 2 to 4:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.explorit.org or call Explorit at (530) 756-0191.