Chemistry Workshop

On September 17th, 2022, for our second workshop of the year, we had 48 girls learn all about chemistry! Led by Grace Sun at the College-Rolando Library, this workshop discussed topics such as the different types of chemistry, female role models in chemistry, and how chemistry is used in daily life. Participants also explored atoms, molecules, and elements, ending this part of the workshop with a fun chemistry trivia! One girl commented, “I liked learning about neutrons because I didn’t know atoms had three parts.”

​The girls also learned about electronegativity and polarity with paper chromatography. In this activity, participants drew dots in a horizontal line on coffee filters and dipped them in water, watching the water carry the ink up the filters to create some really pretty art. Many participants noticed that the darker colors traveled further with the water up the coffee filters, resulting in the discovery that polar molecules stick together! 

Finally, the workshop closed with slime-making. We used slime to explore chemical reactions, physical reactions, and the different types of reactions. We also discussed how using different materials, in this case glue and activator, could affect the end result of a chemical reaction, for example, the slime being more rubbery versus runny. This was a very popular activity among the girls, with one saying, “my favorite part was making the slime because it’s a more hands-on activity.”