The chemistry of poison ivy (video)

WASHINGTON, March 9, 2015 — Leaves of three, let them be, right? But what happens when you get covered in poison ivy and can’t stop scratching? Jennifer Novotney, winner of the 2014 Chemistry Champions science communications competition, breaks down what it is about that dreaded vine that makes us so itchy. Reactions also offers up a remedy for the poison ivy’s itch using the power of chemistry. Check out the video here: http://youtu.be/SJEU3PT0O5g.

The American Chemical Society (ACS) is looking for the next great science communicator. We’re bringing back the Chemistry Champions contest for 2015! The first round asks scientists to explain their research to the general public in a fun two-to-three-minute video. If you think you’re the Carl Sagan of chemistry, check out http://www.acs.org/chemchamps for more details.

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The American Chemical Society is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. With more than 158,000 members, ACS is the world’s largest scientific society and a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.