University of Colorado chemistry Professor David Nesbitt will present the final CU Wizards program of the semester, "Chemistry is Fun," on Saturday, Dec. 26.
The program will be in the Cristol Chemistry and Biochemistry Building, room 140, at 9:30 a.m.
Nesbitt will use exciting visual displays and experiments to illustrate the basic concepts of chemistry. He plans to produce several explosions, show how liquids mix or don't mix, demonstrate the effects of temperature on chemical reactions and explain how fireworks get their colorful glows.
Nesbitt also will grow an underwater Christmas tree with silver needles and present many other demonstrations appropriate to the holidays.
"I want to show how cool chemistry can be," Nesbitt said. "Chemistry is all around us and we experience it daily."
The CU Wizards series is an annual program that provides an informal introduction to astronomy, chemistry and physics to schoolchildren. It includes presentations by CU-Boulder faculty representing various fields of expertise.
CU Wizards series programs are free and open to the public and are recommended for children in grades five through nine. Reservations are not required.
Free parking is available in lot 378 east of the stadium and north of Colorado Avenue, lots 396 and 169 north of the stadium, and lot 436 east of the Engineering Center. Anyone with a disability or special need should notify the physics department at 303-492-6952. For general information about the CU Wizards series call 303-492-4318.
CU-Boulder professor Todd Gleason will present the next program in the series, "Biology of Muscles and Movement," on Jan. 30, in room 140 of the Cristol Chemistry and Biochemistry Building.