News Release Details

4/3/2009

EAC’s 17th Annual Chemistry Adventure brings chemistry to life for area high school students

[Click Image to Enlarge] Organic Chemisty students Kia Palmer, Paulina Velez-Burgos, Meghan Skinner, and Kayla Bidegain demonstrate combustion with the “Dancing Flames” at the Magic Show. [Lori Dugan photo]

By Lori Dugan

THATCHER, AZ—Eastern Arizona College’s Chemistry Department—consisting of Joel Shelton, Dr. Michael Neary, and Dr. Phil McBride—hosted the 17th Annual Chemistry Adventure on March 24, 2009. Approximately 45 high school students making up 11 teams from Duncan, Morenci, Safford, and Thatcher, participated in this day-long event. McBride formally welcomed the participants and their teachers and the coordinator of the EAC Admissions Office, Erik Lehmann, presented the students with the academic and extracurricular possibilities available at the College.

The students began the competition with a laboratory experiment to determine the acid dissociation constant of an unknown acid. Teams were graded on laboratory technique, calculations, safety, and accuracy.

The competition continued with a team competition where students solved chemistry-related problems. The third event involved teams answering questions on a variety of chemistry concepts.

While results were being tabulated, EAC’s Organic Chemistry students dazzled the high school students with an array of colorful, loud, bright, and exciting chemical exhibitions.

Awards were presented at the conclusion of the chemistry demonstration to the top four teams:

###

1st Place:

“Microcarbs” from Thatcher High School

Dallin Green

Steven Lines

Garrett Rupp

Nathan Wright 2nd Place:

“Combustibles” from Safford High School

Niko Bonifacio

Noah Clonts

Matthew Gomez

Boris Calienes

3rd Place:

“Avogadro’s Angels” from Duncan High School

Melissa Cerna

Kayla Sexton

Sarah Baker

Jace Shelton

4th Place:

“Morenci Red” from Morenci High School

Kayla Moen

Shalana Kelley

Arcadia Leon

Andrea Lopez