The Purdue University North Central College of Science recently welcomed students from Barker Middle School in Michigan City, to participate in a variety of activities to mark National Chemistry Week.
Dr. Jessica Thomas, PNC assistant professor of Chemistry, coordinated a number of experiments, demonstrations and experiences to expose the seventh graders to many aspects of chemistry and show how chemistry is a part of everyday life.
The concepts that Barker students learned included:
Chromatography: The students learned that black ink isn’t always just black ink. By separating the dyes that make it up.
Flame tests: revealed the various metals that are used in fireworks to give them their colors.
How do we know what elements are in the stars? Students viewed and analyzed the spectra from different gases and light sources.
Cabbage Juice Indicator: Showed how to tell if something is acidic or basic without tasting it.
Precipitation reactions: How two clear colorless liquids mix together to make a colorful solid.
They also learned the concepts behind disappearing ink, how to “electrocute a pickle and telling time using the PNC sundial.
Assisting with the day’s events were the PNC College of Science Student Ambassadors; Dr. Aaron Warren, associate professor of Physics; Dr. Laura Unger, associate professor of Chemistry and Dr. Barreto, associate professor of Chemistry.