Rapid City, South Dakota – In celebration of National Chemistry Week, South Dakota Mines opened its labs to a group of eighth‑grade students from the region, offering a hands‑on look at the science of matter.
Flame‑test demonstration sparks curiosity
The students performed the classic flame‑test, where small samples of various metals are burned to reveal distinct colors—green, purple, pink and more. Guided by lecturer Catherine Moulder, the youngsters learned how energy and electrons interact to produce the visible hues.
“Science is magic where we figured out what the rules are,” Moulder said. “And if we know what those rules are, that doesn’t mean it stopped being magic. It’s still incredibly fun and incredibly awesome… I want to expose our students to the broad world of science, and see how magical their lives can be.”
Students react to the colorful flames
For many, seeing a spectrum of flame colors was a new experience. Morgan, an eighth‑grader from Hermosa, remarked, “We thought it was really cool that there’s actually different colors of fire. I always thought there was just orange. It’s really cool to know that there’s, like, green, and pink, and all those colors.”
Moulder began the session with a safety briefing before the students ignited wooden sticks soaked in the various metal compounds. The demonstration highlighted not only the visual appeal of chemistry but also the underlying principles that govern how atoms emit light.
National Chemistry Week context
National Chemistry Week, which includes Mole Day on Oct. 23, celebrates chemistry’s role in everyday life. The date 10‑23 mirrors Avogadro’s number (6.022 × 10²³), a fundamental constant in chemical calculations.
The event underscores South Dakota Mines’ commitment to community outreach and STEM education, providing local youth with inspiring, real‑world science experiences.
Original reporting: KOTA (Gray) – local — read the source article.
