Exploding pumpkins, brewing potions and massing objects out of nowhere, these are a few things that AP Chemistry students performed for this year’s Halloween demo.
On Oct. 29, AP chemistry students in Cheryl Vanicek’s class traveled to Wheeler Elementary to demonstrate their halloween experiments. This was a purely optional task that students were offered. The concepts that the students practiced for this demonstration were almost like a refresher for some students which helped to reinforce these ideas in their minds.
“When I took Chemistry during sophomore year I really enjoyed it,” senior Carolyn Chapin said. “It sparked my interest in chemistry and I think I discovered what I want to do in the future.”
The kinds of experiments that the chemistry students performed could only be described as witchcraft to the kids. This wasn’t the case but it can be hard to tell how these experiments work.
“We made things like elephant toothpaste and color changing liquid which the kids had a big reaction to,” Chapin said. “The main question that the kids asked was how does the water change color, which I got very proficient at answering.”
Other experiments included an exploding pumpkin and bubbles that form on dry ice. These experiments could have a big impact on a child and could get them interested in chemistry.
“I think that kids who watched this demonstration could become interested in learning about it which is how I became invested in chemistry,” senior Fred Mindrup said. “I think chemistry is a good thing to learn and it’s not like we don’t need less chemists in the world.”
A good idea can lead to a year round tradition and that is why the whole tradition of AP Chemistry started.
“This tradition started because I wanted to do the demonstrations we do here at school for my son who was in elementary school at the time,” Vanicek said. “I saw how we worked with our theater schools and I decided that I should do these demonstrations with them and it just stuck as something we do.”
A tradition like the Halloween demonstration can be a springboard for students to get into chemistry long before they can take the class. Not only was it special for the kids but it was also special for the students involved, because it allowed them to show fascinating reactions to future chemists.
