Chemistry Expo: Bright Colors, Big Reactions, and Gummy Bear Stew

Where there’s smoke at Friends Academy, there’s most definitely a chemistry experiment being conducted.

Such was the case when white smoke recently billowed on an outdoor walkway during the AP Chemistry Expo — an annual event that puts Upper School students in the role of teacher to conduct an array of experiments for smiling, wide-eyed Lower School students.

The white smoke wasn’t the only thing holding their rapt attention. This particular experiment, called “Screaming Gummy Bear,” more than lived up to its name.

The moment junior Blake Doan dropped a gummy bear into the borosilicate ignition tube, the chemical reaction created a screeching howl that inspired one Lower School student to shout, “Gummy bear stew! The gummy bear is being sacrificed!”

The demonstration began by heating solid potassium chlorate to create a highly reactive, oxygen-rich liquid environment that would enable the next steps to overcome a high activation energy barrier.

Once the sucrose inside the gummy bear made contact with the molten chlorate, the reaction was spontaneous, with a massive shift of electrons taking place. The localized pressure inside the tube forced high-velocity gas molecules to rapidly escape the constraints of the tube and create high-pitched sound waves.

That, of course, isn’t how Blake explained the experiment to the Lower School students.

The basic intent was to show what happens when a solid turns into a gas. He simplified things by saying, “When the gummy bear was in a solid state, its atoms were closer together and stable in their structure. And as it melted, the atoms lost their structure and everything became chaotic.”

Now in its fifth year, the AP Chemistry Expo has always been a place for Upper School students to display their mastery of science by showing how well they can simplify complex topics in a way that can be understood by first, second, third, and fourth graders.

“We learn things at a pretty high level in AP chemistry,” says Ms. Sara Baldvins, the Upper School’s AP chem teacher, “but if you really understand something, you’re able to explain it to someone who is a lot younger or knows less than you. Our students are being asked to take really advanced concepts and explain them at a very basic level. In order to do that, you have to have a really deep understanding of the chemistry and the science that is taking place.”

This year’s demonstrations extended far beyond gummy bear stew. The lineup included Chemiluminescence, Iodine Clock Reaction, Paper Chromatography Flowers, Le Chatelier’s Principle Experiment, Nylon Rope Trick, Inflating a Balloon With Chemistry, Elephant Toothpaste, The Carbon Snake, Alkali Metals in Water, and The Rainbow Flask.

Many of the experiments gave students a chance to witness physical (and colorful) changes occurring right in front of them, and experiments such as the Nylon Rope Trick and The Carbon Snake also afforded them the opportunity to touch the end results.

“Across divisions at Friends Academy, our community really values science,” says Mrs. Katie Schlicht. “It’s such an important part of our students’ futures, and it’s so important to create a love for science with our youngest learners. They’re so curious, and they were really inspired by the older students. Hopefully they’ll aspire to pursue the same route when they get to the Upper School.”

Nurturing a love for science is also important for Upper School students. It’s one of the main reasons Ms. Baldvins holds the AP Chemistry Expo in late May after students have taken the AP test.

“The students in AP chemistry worked so hard all year,” she says. “It’s an incredibly challenging class. When we’re learning content throughout the year, we’re knee-deep in equations and math and problem-solving. Sometimes the fun and big picture of science can get lost. The purpose of this event is really to reinvigorate their love of science. We want to end the school year with a highlight and remind ourselves how interesting and exciting and thrilling science can be.”

Photography by Alvin Caal / Friends Academy