This year the Chemical Society of Washington (CSW) partnered with several groups to bring chemistry activities to the community during Rockville Science Day for Chemists Celebrate Earth Week (CCEW). Up on the 3rd floor of the Science Building, CSW worked with the Montgomery College STEM Ed Club, the Rockville Chemistry Department, the Northwest ACS Chem Club, and ACS National to welcome over 750 students and their families.
CSW volunteers patiently worked with students as they learned about pigments in leaves with the “Color Quest” chromatography activity. Families were delighted by the color flame test demonstration. Future engineers tested their building skills with the Engineering Bridge Challenge. Parents and students alike enjoyed learning about the chemistry behind lava lamps. Students received a souvenir with the self-inflating balloon activity which taught them about the signs of a chemical reaction. Families also got to take home stickers and buttons made by Lauren in honor of the CCEW theme “Into the Woods with Chemistry”. Keychains celebrating the 150th anniversary of ACS, brought by ACS National, were also a big hit.
Overall, it was a very busy but successful afternoon. A huge thank you to all our volunteers: Greg, Noah, Lily, Ravinder, Lauren, Nevart, Brian, Daryl, Odalys, and Iman.
