CHEM CLUB COMES TO EXPLORIT

Elephant toothpaste?

Back by popular demand, the UC Davis Chemistry Club will present dramatic chemistry demonstrations at Explorit Science Center tomorrow. 

From unique booms and popping sounds to fantastic color changes and funny smells, members of the UC Davis Chemistry Club will surely make Explorit visitors say "ooh" and "aah." Demonstration start times are at 1 and 2 p.m. Guests should arrive early to insure a good view. Explorit is located at 3141 5th Street in East Davis.

Sarah Hernandez, vice president of the UC Davis Chemistry Club enjoys sharing her passion for science with youth and especially enjoys instilling the curiosity of science with those in under-represented schools and communities. The logo on the club T-shirt, "Better Living Through Chemistry," suits her well.

"If I make one child laugh or awe at one of our demos, then I know I may be leading them on a path towards higher education. I know that my enthusiasm is best served by helping bridge the gap between science and education in our K-12 schools," she said. And yes, Sarah knows how to make enough toothpaste for an elephant. She encourages guests to come see how.

The UC Davis Chemistry Club will demonstrate some chemical properties through physical and chemical changes.

Physical changes create changes in appearance without changing the chemical components of the substances involved. Take temperature for example. At normal temperature and pressure, nitrogen is a gas. But when nitrogen is cooled to -340 degrees Fahrenheit or 77.2 degrees Kelvin, it becomes a liquid. The UC Davis Chemistry Club will show some pretty cool things that happen to substances that are exposed to this extremely cold liquid substance.

Chemical reactions change the molecular composition of substances. A good example of a chemical reaction is fire. The ashes and smoke resulting from a fire are, no doubt, different chemically than the original item. The UC Davis Chemistry Club will certainly do a bang-up job of exhibiting some chemical changes.

Explorit visitors can take what they learn at the demonstrations and apply those concepts to the current Explorit exhibition "What an Animal! Fins and Feathers and Other Creature Features." What physical changes occur with bird feathers that allow birds to fly or swim rather than sink? What chemical changes occur in the digestive tract of animals?

The UC Davis Chemistry Club's "Chemistry Craze!" at Explorit is sponsored by Davis Waste Removal, and is free with paid admission to Explorit and to all Explorit members.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Explorit Science Center is at 3141 Fifth St. in East Davis. The current exhibition "What an Animal! Fins and Feathers and Other Creature Features" runs through June 11. 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.