RELEASED: October 15, 2009

By Abby Malik

DANVILLE, KY—The Centre College American Chemical Society student chapter is teaming up with the Lexington chapter of the American Chemical Society (ACS) to help the Central Kentucky community celebrate National Chemistry Week.

On Thursday, Oct. 22, they will lead an explosive and informative free public event at the Danville High School Auditorium from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

This year's event—themed "Chemistry—It's Elemental!"—celebrates the 140th anniversary of the Periodic Table of Elements.

Activities will include a chemical demonstration show with Dr. Jeff Fieberg, Centre associate professor of chemistry; Mark Mojesky, chemistry teacher at Danville High School; and Centre and local high school students.

The history of elements will be discussed, beginning with the Greek elements of earth, fire, air and water. Chemical properties of many elements—combustion and color changes, for examples—will be demonstrated.

"This event is an excellent way for the entire community to celebrate National Chemistry Week," Fieberg says. "Everything you are, you touch, and you see is made of elements. What in the world isn't chemistry?!"

Fieberg is the National Chemistry Week coordinator for the entire Lexington area and is the faculty advisor for Centre's American Chemical Society student chapter. 

Last year, more than 350 people from across Central Kentucky attended the celebration, and organizers are expecting a similar crowd for this second-annual event.

National Chemistry Week is an outreach program of the American Chemical Society aimed at improving the public's awareness of chemistry's contributions to our everyday lives and its importance to the nation's economy. ACS members, industry, educators and chemistry enthusiasts celebrate it nationwide.

For more NCW events, click here.

The American Chemical Society is the world's largest scientific society with a membership of more than 154,000 chemists and chemical engineers.

The Society publishes scientific journals and databases, convenes major research conferences, and provides educational, science policy and career programs in chemistry. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.

Have comments, suggestions, or story ideas? E-mail leigh.ivey@centre.edu with your feedback.

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Founded in 1819, Centre College is ranked among the U.S. News top 50 national liberal arts colleges. Consumers Digest ranks Centre No. 1 in educational value among all U.S. liberal arts colleges. Centre alumni, known for their nation-leading loyalty in annual financial support, include two U.S. vice presidents and two Supreme Court justices. For more, visit http://www.centre.edu/web/elevatorspeech/

For news archives go to http://www.centre.edu/web/news/newsarchive.html.