Learning chemistry helps us better understand the world around us and is critical to human, animal, plant, and overall Earth health and sustainability. During this year’s virtual Chemistry Day, you can watch chemists from around the region demonstrate a variety of experiments and explain the chemistry behind them.
The event is sponsored by the Eastern New York Section of the American Chemical Society.
Step on up and try your luck at our pick-a-cup guessing game! Beware, our cup shuffler Kait has fast hands and a keen knowledge of chemistry. Through this demonstration you will witness superabsorbent polymers in action and watch as water molecules to “stick” to sodium polyacrylate, a polymer found in diapers.
This demonstration shows how different types of chemistry are being used for making adhesives in various kinds of tapes. Presenters use the infra-red (IR) spectroscopy to show how the chemical analysis can reveal different types of adhesives.
Learn about the different ways to bond materials together! Many of these can be done using items you find in the kitchen (and a few things from the bathroom).
Learn how to test the strengths of different adhesives, and see which ones come out on top!
The video shows two experiments: In Experiment 1, casein glues are prepared and tested (shear test) against a commercial glue. In Experiment 2, the adhesives on duct tape, packing tape and painter's tape are given the "ball bearing test" to see which has the stickiest adhesive.
Research suggests that one test of adhesive strength in tape is the force needed to peel it off a surface. How could we design an experiment to test a bunch of different kinds of tape (scotch, duct, masking, packing, electrical)? What is our research question? Hypothesis? Variables? How are we performing the tests? What equipment do we need? What constants need to be considered?
We will use skim milk to make a natural form of glue. Students will learn the steps to, and the science behind, this at-home-friendly experiment.
The Eastern New York Younger Chemist Committee (ENY YCC) shows you how to make silly putty with only 3 simple ingredients!
The YCC is a group for college aged and young professional chemist that hosts a variety of speaker, networking, professional development, and social events. Learn more about us on our Instagram (@ycc.enys.acs) or Twitter (@ycc_enys_acs).
If not for the COVID-19 pandemic, we would be offering paper chromatography of washable marking pen inks as a hands-on activity. We couldn’t film a video demonstration to take its place. Instead, here’s a link to some “Chromatography Detective Work” performed by students in a school science club:
https://www.webinnate.co.uk/science/week4.htm
Strictly speaking, the student’s conclusion is only accurate if the ransom note was written on the same type of filter paper they used. We might infer it was, because they say they drew matching Os “on another piece of filter paper”.
For more information on the New York State Police Crime Laboratory System, please click on the following link:
https://www.troopers.ny.gov/Crime_ Laboratory_System/
From there, you can access topics such as Crime Laboratory System Sections, history of the Crime Laboratory, and interesting cases solved with the help of forensic Science.
The New York State Museum is a program of the University of the State of New York
New York State Education Department
