FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | August 28, 2011

American Chemical Society hosts hands-on community event at Denver science museum

DENVER, August 28, 2011 — Children can make “snow” and explore other wonders of chemistry today at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. The free event, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., is sponsored by the American Chemical Society (ACS). It is being held in conjunction with the Society’s 242nd National Meeting here in Denver.

All activities are under the supervision of area chemists and include

  • Colorful Lather Printing—Participate in the ancient art of paper marbling and learn about the “water loving” and “water hating” properties of soap.
  • Special Effects Using Household Chemicals—Making Snow—Make snow like that used in movies. Four different types of snow will be made by combining different amounts of water with the polymer sodium polyacrylate.
  • Flubber—Explore polymers by creating flubber, which has some properties of a solid and some properties of a liquid.
  • Producing Oxygen Gas—Create oxygen gas from simple household materials.
  • Density Batons—Learn about relative densities while creating a fun toy.
  • Lincoln Drops—Predict how many drops of water can be placed on the head of a penny before any of the water spills off.
  • Magic Nuudles—Work with biodegradable building blocks made from cornstarch.
  • New Sense about Cents—Explore some of the properties of copper using a few common household ingredients.
  • Sweet Measurements—See just how much sugar is in a soda.
  • “X” Marks the Spot—Explore properties of water (cohesion, adhesion) while mastering a maze.

About the Denver Museum of Nature & Science

The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is the Rocky Mountain region's leading resource for informal science education. A variety of exhibitions, programs, and activities help Museum visitors experience the natural wonders of Colorado, Earth, and the universe. http://www.dmns.org/

The United Nations designated The International Year of Chemistry (IYC) 2011 as a global celebration of chemistry and its contributions to the world around us. For activities and events, see www.acs.org/water2011 and www.chemistry2011.org.

###

Media Contact

Nancy Blount
703-307-0498 (Aug. 27-31)
202-872-4440
n_blount@acs.org