Photo opportunities: Local children engage in hands-on science activities

WASHINGTON, Aug. 16, 2017 — Kids and families are invited to learn about the fascinating world of chemistry through hands-on activities at the American Chemical Society (ACS) Kids Zone science event, “Exploring Our World through Chemistry.”

What: Hands-on chemistry experiments for kids of all ages
Where: ACS Headquarters, 1155 16th Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20036
When: Saturday, Aug. 19, 12-4 p.m. EDT
Who: Kids, families and anyone else interested in chemistry are encouraged to attend

ACS’ community partners — the Percy Julian Institute, the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum, and the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History — will be on hand along with food trucks, free giveaways, issues of ACS’ children’s publication, and hands-on activities, such as:

• Fizzy Fun: Think all rocks are alike? Learn how to use a magnifying glass, a nail, vinegar and chemistry to tell the difference between various rocks and minerals!
• Detecting UV Light: Why do you have to wear sunscreen outside in the summer but not inside when the lights are on? Use beads that detect the ultraviolet light that can cause sunburns to help you protect your skin and to make beautiful bracelets!
• Iron for Breakfast: Is your cereal magnetic? Let’s see! Using strong magnets, we will pull iron, an essential nutrient, from breakfast cereals. Kids and parents alike are amazed at the amounts of this element that can be found in delicious food!

This event precedes the 254th ACS National Meeting in Washington, D.C. Nearly 10,000 chemists will descend on the nation’s capital for the meeting, which runs from Sunday, Aug. 20, through Thursday, Aug. 24.

The American Chemical Society, the world’s largest scientific society, is a not-for-profit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. ACS is a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related information and research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences. ACS does not conduct research, but publishes and publicizes peer-reviewed scientific studies. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.

Social Media: Event hash tags — #CelebratingChemistry, #NCW and #NCW30years; Twitter handle - @AmerChemSociety; Instagram handle - @AmerChemSociety; Facebook page - www.facebook.com/NationalChemistryWeek