The Union Carnegie Library was visited by Kat Davis, director of the Union County Library District Project.  She entertained us with stories and science projects.

Those in attendance had a great time. I thought those who weren't there as well as the attendees would like a copy of the recipes for the experiments. Here they are thanks to Kat:

To shine up those pennies:

1 T. sodium chloride (table salt) dissolved in 1/2 c. ascetic acid (white vinegar)

Pennies are made of copper.  Through time, the copper interacts with oxygen to form copper oxide.  The solution will dissolve the copper oxide and let the new copper shine through!

Making chalk:

2 parts powdered calcium carbonate (plaster of Paris) mixed into 1 part universal solvent (H20 or water!)

Add water color or poster paint color of choice; pour into paper mold like small paper cup or toilet paper tube to harden.

Discovering that eyes are "binocular" (each eye sees its own view independently of the other; our brains make those pictures come together):

make a small, nickel sized paper tube.  Hold it in front of one eye.  While looking through the tube and keeping both eyes open, slowly move the palm of your other hand next to the tube.  Because our brain makes what each eye sees come together into one picture, it will look like there is a hole in your hand!

Hope to see everyone on the second week in April at 11:00 a.m for our next Library Lollapalooza!