Ice cream, cotton candy and slime are just some of the items that will be prepared from scratch during the next CU Wizards show "Chemistry in the Kitchen" on Saturday, Nov. 25, at 9:30 a.m. in Cristol Chemistry and Biochemistry room 140.
University of Colorado at Boulder faculty members Janet deGrazia and Gordon Yee will explore kitchens and their connection to chemistry, including how common foods can be used as universal indicators for acids and bases, and what happens when popcorn pops.
"We will be exploring how chemistry impacts things related to food, cooking and kitchens," said deGrazia, a senior instructor for the College of Engineering and Applied Science and director of outreach for CU-Boulders Integrated Teaching and Learning Laboratory.
The hour-long show will feature several experiments including an attempt to make butter and audience members making their own version of Play-Doh.
"Since safety is a huge part of both chemistry and kitchens, well discuss fire extinguishers and show the audience how they work," deGrazia said.
The CU Wizards series is an annual program that introduces the audience to astronomy, chemistry and physics and is geared toward students in grades five through nine.
Free parking for the Nov. 25 show is available only in these lots: lot 436, which is east of the Engineering Center; lot 065, which is on the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and Broadway; lot 308, which is south of Regent Drive and west of Kittredge Loop Road; lot 169, which is northeast of Folsom Stadium off Folsom Street; lot 378, which is just west of Franklin Field; and lot 396, which is off Stadium Drive. Certain parking spaces are reserved for permit holders at all times and those parked in these spots without permits will be towed.
Closer parking is in the Euclid Avenue Autopark for a nominal fee.
Anyone with a disability or special need should notify the physics office at (303) 492-6952 a few days prior to the show. For general information about the CU Wizards series call (303) 492-4318.