American Chemical Society (ACS) held “Don’t Be Wicked, Use Green Chemistry” during its March monthly meeting from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. March 10.
The meeting provided free food, mocktails, charcuterie and some green chemistry demos.
“It’s pretty similar [to what we studied]. We did a lab … I did a lab last semester that was kind of the same concept. It was one of my favorites, so I was like, yay!” freshman biochemistry major Ada Scoggins said.
The event provided attendees food and drink before going through the instruction of demos.
“This event was meant to bring awareness to green chemistry for our chapter, and also show how we can use practical applications of things we learned,” junior chemistry major and Vice President of ACS Hailey Zornes said, “Say a general chemistry class, an inorganic chemistry class about heavy metals and the colors that they have based on their oxidation states, and apply that concept to green chemistry.”
According to Zornes, the content of each demo usually contains knowledge of chemistry so students can practice hands-on.
“It has [what we learned] for sure. Inorganic [chemistry], it definitely relates to inorganic [chemistry] somewhat,” junior biochemistry major Aidan Bird said.
“The reagents that we use today don’t use much solvent, they don’t produce much waste, and they recreate themselves,” Zornes said. “So once that methanol boils off or evaporates off, you’re in and out right back when you start with the same solid, and you can just repeat and repeat and repeat that demo over and over again.”
Attendees had to cover their eyes with safe glasses, and came to five tables that had been set up before for the demos.
Dipping the stick into the liquid and then firing them, attendees saw the sticks burn into different colors.
“Those are the same thing, hands-on chemistry demos where we show the chemistry you’re learning in the classroom and how it can be a really fun practice and activity,” Zornes said.
Depending on what color the fire was, the liquid name was found out.
“It’s fun,” Scoggins said.
“I liked it,” Bird said.
Zornes said ACS monthly meetings will have hands-on activities.
“For example, last month we did a hands-on fire demo where students got to be lit on fire using a super cool chemistry with butane and soap barriers. And then next month, in April, we’re going to do two demos,” Zornes said.
“We’ll do one with food chemistry, which will be applesauce, with Ritz crackers and tartaric acid. So not applesauce, but we’re going to make it taste just like it. And then we’re also going to do trick candles, which is pretty similar to this,” Zornes said.
According to Zornes, the funding for the events was both from UCA and ACS.
“Most of the funding for this event comes … through UCA, through the Student Government Association. But ACS has its own fundraisers as well outside,” Zornes said.
Scoggins said that she always wanted to go to a chemical event.
“I usually go places with one of my friends, she comes here often. But today I actually went by myself,” she said.
Bird said that he came to support his friends.
“I like hanging out with all the people and seeing the kind of cool ideas that they have for events and stuff,” he said. “I’m friends with most of the officers there anyway, so I go to support for the most part. Well, Emma, Hailey, Jeremiah, Connor – all of them.”
