Kalamazoo Section of the American Chemical Society
We are a dynamic and visionary organization committed to improving people’s lives in our community through the transforming power of chemistry. We strive to advance the broader chemistry enterprise and its practitioners for the benefit of Kalamazoo, Allegan and Van Buren counties.
June 2014 Newsletter
Download PDF (581 kB)
Highlights
- Comments from the KACS chair
- About the upcoming free picnic by the CGSA
- Who was recognized at the KACS awards night
Summer from the Chair
John H. Engelmann, Ph.D. (KACS Chair)
Miscellaneous
KACS Makes Educational Donation
Thanks to a recommendation to the Executive Committee of the KACS, we have donated two sets of study guides, one each, to the libraries of Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo College. These guides were provided as an additional resource to help students prepare for the American Chemical Society's General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Physical Chemistry subject examinations. (The Kalamazoo Valley Community College library declined a similar offer.)
Webinar Redux
On May 6, 2014, the Kalamazoo Local Section participated in an "LSAC Best Practices Webinar", which was organized by the National ACS Committee on Local Section Activities (LSAC). LSAC Chair Martin Rudd facilitated the webinar, which included the discussion of three local sections’ events – those adaptable to any section size. KACS Past-Chair Elke Schoffers was one of three presenters; she explained how our Zoetis-sponsored "Sustainable Science-Recycle A Poster" activity at Bell's Eccentric Cafe was organized, how it is currently executed and clearly communicated its success as a forum for bringing together students and professional chemists from industry and academia. A transcript and the presentation slides can be viewed on the Training & Support page.
Special Event
CGSA Picnic – Fun in the Sun!
Friday 6 June 2014 – 5-8pm
Download printable event flyer as PDF (1.5 MB)
- Free Food (Vegetarian and Non-Vegetarian Options Provided)
- Open to all Local Chemists and their Families
- Family-friendly activities
- Hope to see you there!
On Friday June 6, the Chemistry Graduate Student Association (CGSA) will be hosting a picnic at Oshtemo Park (7275 West Main) from 5-8pm. The purpose of this event is to introduce chemistry graduate and undergraduate students to the KACS community outside of the university. There will be vegetarian and non-vegetarian food options provided. All members of the local chemistry community and their families, are welcome at this event. Please come join us for a fun afternoon at the park on June 6th!
Chemistry Graduate Student Association
1903 West Michigan Ave.
Kalamazoo MI, 49008
KACS Awards Ceremony
The 41st KACS Awards presentation was held on Monday, May 12, on the Western Michigan University campus with a record-number of attendees. Awardees included four individuals celebrating 50 years of ACS membership, the Outstanding High School Chemistry Teacher, Outstanding College Chemistry Student awards, several high school student awards, and awards recognizing service to the KACS section.
The awards for high school students are based on outstanding achievement on the Competitive Examination Competition, organized by Dr. James Kiddle, or on nominations from teachers at local schools. The Outstanding High School Chemistry Teacher is nominated by the high school principal. Dr. Sherine Obare and Dr. Andre Venter were instrumental in reviewing nominations and selecting this year’s award winner. Both Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo College selected an Outstanding College Chemistry Student.
The Kalamazoo Section Award Winners were Sherine Obare for her many years of service on the Education Committee, Charissa Oliphant for her many years of participation as presenter at Chemistry Day at the Museum, and Doug Williams and Elke Schoffers for their enthusiastic, positive, and continuing leadership in the Section. The section would also like to recognize the significant contributions from the Education Committee (Megan Grunert, James Kiddle, Sherine Obare, and Andre Venter), Lydia Hines, Elke Schoffers, and Robin Lenkart in organizing another outstanding awards ceremony. Congratulations to all awardees who are recognized below.
- Fifty-Year Members
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- Dr. David R. Buss
- Dr. Rex Hornish
- Dr. Ferenc J. Kezdy
- Mr. Eldon George Nidy
- Outstanding College Chemistry Students
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- William B. Thayer - WMU
- Amanda Bolles - K-College
Fifty Year Member Dr Rex Hornish
- 2014 KACS Outstanding High School Chemistry Teacher
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- Jennifer Billington - Parchment High School
2014 Outstanding High School Chemistry Teacher Jennifer Billington (Parchment High School), with Education Chair Dr. Megan Grunert
- Outstanding High School Chemistry Students
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- Brian Bartley - Loy Norrix High School
- Sean Brennan - Paw Paw High School
- Denise Garner - Gull Lake High School
- Logan Hughey - Kalamazoo Central High School
- Callahan Katrak - Mattawan High School
- Doug Keto - Comstock High School
- Emily Konkel - Portage Central High School
- Felicia Murry - Portage Northern High School
- Ashley Pepple - Plainwell High School
- Justin Richardson - Kalamazoo Christian High School
- Katherine Wu - KAMSC
2014 Outstanding High School Students
- 2014 Competitive Scholarship Winners
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- Andrew J. Bingham – Plainwell
- Amanda G. Gibson – Mattawan
- Anastasia C. Kupstas – Gull Lake
- Callahan K. Katrak – Mattawan
- Kaylie E. Colyer – Plainwell
- Chandler L. Stockwell – Gull Lake
- James C. Gibson – Gull Lake
- Kade C. Katrak – Mattawan
- Tyler A. Leverton – KAMSC / Loy Norrix
- Brian Bartley – Loy Norrix
- Anna K. Lane – Gull Lake
2014 Competitive Scholarship Winners
- 2014 Competitive Scholarship Honorable Mention
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- Allison E. Bartz – Portage Central
- Sydnie Bodzianowski – KAMSC / K-Central
- Jacob A. Cipich – Portage Northern
- Malachi C. Cox – Loy Norrix
- Sarah J. Melbow – Gull Lake
- Joshua M. Mussche – KAMSC / Comstock
- Ashley L. Pepple – Plainwell
- Evan M. Stoll – Portage Northern
- Trenton L. Thelen – Wayland
- Ryan T. Vennard – Gull Lake
2014 Competitive Scholarship Honorable Mentions
- Kalamazoo Section Award Winners
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- Sherine Obare
- Charissa Oliphant
- Doug Williams
- Elke Schoffers
Kalamazoo Section Award Winners. Left to right: Dr. Doug Williams, Dr. Sherine Obare, Dr. Lydia Hines, Ms. Charissa Oliphant, Dr. Elke Schoffers
Important News from ACS
In the spring of 2014 there was a report of an accident in a New York High School Chemistry class after a presentation of the Rainbow Demonstration. The Committee on Chemical Safety of the American Chemical Society responded to that incident with a comment in the March 17, 2014 (p. 43) issue of C&E News, along with an offer of a website where teachers can find alternative demonstrations, suitable for the HS classroom, which can be carried out safely. Our Councilor, Lydia Hines, sent this information by e-mail to all of our K-12 teachers immediately upon her return from the Spring ACS Meeting in Dallas, in March.
Another item which our councilor sent out to our Section’s HS teachers was an e-mail informing them that in addition to the many educational chemistry resources available to teachers, the ACS offers opportunity for them to apply for grants up to $1500 for enhancing their students’ educational experience. Application and further information may be found at www.acs.org/hachgrants.
Coming in September: The American Association of Chemistry Teachers (AACT)! Serving K–12 teachers of chemistry everywhere, AACT will offer specialized chemistry teaching resources, a periodical about teaching chemistry in the K–12 classroom, an online community for sharing, and more.
For our unemployed members the ACS offers links to career-assistance tools, benefits and other resources at www.acs.org/unemployed. Also, our own KACS offers the ChemAble grant to our unemployed members.
Do you have questions, comments, or a desire to contribute to the newsletter? Send an e-mail to chair@kalamazooacs.org.
By John H. Engelmann
The fireworks season is here. Fireworks are very old. They were developed in India and China, long before the idea of fireworks came to Europe. Fireworks came to Europe somewhat later. However, by 1635, a book published in London showed fireworks very similar to what we have today.
The book even discloses salts used to provide color. Fireworks are based upon straight forward chemistry. The major components of fireworks are oxidizers, reducing molecules, and metals which provide color. An oxygen-containing molecule provides oxygen to oxidize a reducing agent.
The major oxygen containing molecules used on fireworks are potassium nitrate (KNO3), potassium chlorate (KClO3), and potassium perchlorate (KClO4). The major reducing molecules are carbon, and sulfur. The metals include magnesium, aluminum and iron. Various metal salts are added to provide color. Strontium provides red color; barium provides green color, and copper provides blue color.
Black powder, that is, a mixture of potassium nitrate, sulfur, and charcoal is the most common composition used in fireworks. Aerial displays use black powder as the propellant to get the fireworks display into the air. Another common mixture used in fireworks is flashcracker powder used to make firecrackers which explode with a loud report and a bright flash. Flashcracker powder is a mixture of potassium perchlorate, aluminum and sulfur. It is used in aerial devices to provide explosions accompanied by a bright flash. Colored displays include flakes of various metals or metal salts which are added to the composition to produces colored stars which twinkle as they burn. So look up to the night sky and enjoy fireworks.