Visit meant to encourage pupils' interest in science
BY DAVE BENJAMIN
Staff Writer

PHOTOS BY DAVE BENJAMIN Chemistry Connection ambassador Dawn Baliko asks pupils how many holes they think will be needed to puncture a bag that is filled with water in order to wet a fellow classmate with a stream of water.

JACKSON - Mix two classes of second-graders from the Lucy Holman School with a few experts from Rhodia Chemistry Connection and poof, you have a hands-on science program that really works.

While their grandparents, mostly grandfathers, probably used a Gilbert chemistry set to get their first experience exploring materials in a test tube, Holman second-graders in Marcie Castillo's and Carolyn Bialecki's classes learned about chemistry firsthand from experts who used items found around the home.

Recently, during National Chemistry Week, Dawn Baliko and Linda Romanowski, of Rhodia Chemistry Connection, Cranbury, brought everything the pupils needed to tinker in the world of chemistry.

"We're going to show you there are chemicals all around you, in your kitchen, in your back yard and in your garage," Baliko said.

Second-graders at the Holman Elementary School, Jackson, learn that their senses can tell them when certain chemicals do not smell so good.

She explained that silicon is one chemical used in making rubber Halloween masks.

She told the youngsters they can have fun with science and demonstrated how to make "goop" out of glue, water and coloring in a small plastic bag. Following directions, the children got to make their own colored "goop."

Next came a demonstration using a pickle and a pair of electrodes with a wire and plug attached

"Does anyone know what's in a pickle?" Baliko asked. "They're loaded with salt."

Baliko placed an electrode into each end of the pickle and then put the plug into an outlet, which caused the pickle to burst into flame. She noted the flame was orange and said there is a lot of sodium in the pickle.

Baliko explained to the children how everything is made up of atoms and said that inside the pickle there are atoms which are made up of protons, neutrons and electrons.

"If you spark the electrons, they start to do a dance inside the pickle and that's what causes the electricity to spark it," she said.

The children next encountered a magic paint brush and an unidentified liquid which they could use to write their invisible names.

"It's rubbing alcohol," Baliko said, "but I put an extra ingredient in it and that is what is going to make it into magic paint."

The children painted their names on paper towels and then their names were revealed in color when the alcohol evaporated from the "magic ingredient."

Next, Baliko asked the children what the difference is between a soft boiled egg and a hard boiled egg.

"How can you tell the difference?" she asked.

The youngsters took turns spinning eggs to determine which eggs were hard boiled and which ones were soft boiled.

After the hard boiled egg was peeled, Baliko demonstrated how to get the egg inside, and then back out of a juice bottle by changing the air pressure.

Other experiments involved the use of the sense of smell.

"At Rhodia, we're proud to take an active role in promoting science education," Baliko said. "American industry is facing a shortage of scientists and engineers to join the work force. We want to encourage students to take an interest in science and show them that science is fun."