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NIU Chem Club students invite public to night of science demonstrations with take-home ideas

October 18, 2012

NIU Chem Demo NightThe Northern Illinois University Chemistry Club invites the public to its fall 2012 Chem Demo Night at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 24, in Faraday Hall 143.

The theme of the demonstrations will be “take-home science,” featuring experiments that can be performed at home.

“I wanted members of the public who would be coming to the event with their children to be able to recreate or together perform the experiments at home,” says student Sara Billenstein, Chem Demo Night coordinator. “These demos give young minds the opportunity to explore science.”

Faculty advisers helping with this year’s demo preparations include Marc Adler, Narayan Hosmane, Lee Sunderlin and Chong Zheng.

“The Chem Demo Night is a great tradition in our department,” says Jon Carnahan, chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. “We are proud of our chemistry students for organizing this event and look forward to putting on an exciting show for the community.”

NIU Chem Demo NightFeatured demonstrations include pH indication using cabbage or milk of magnesia, how ammonia reacts with water, how to make gak (a variation on slime), and how to put a wooden skewer through a balloon without popping it.

Topping off the evening will be a take-home science project and the making of liquid nitrogen ice cream – a Chem Club specialty.

Some non-take-home experiments planned for the evening might involve loud noises, produce fire and/or smoke and require the lights to be dimmed. For safety precautions, members of the audience are asked to avoid sitting in the bottom row of seating in Faraday Hall 143.

Parking will be available in the NIU Parking Deck along the west side of Normal Road, about one block north of Lincoln Highway (Route 38). The parking deck is open for general parking after 7 p.m., except for reserved and handicapped spaces.

More information is available online or by emailing z175192@students.niu.edu.