The University of Central Arkansas ACS student chapter strives to inform the central Arkansas region about the benefits of chemistry through the use of green chemistry principles.  Many of demos and activities the chapter participates in focuses on the importance of the 12 principles of green chemistry.  One activity that has found great success here in the central Arkansas region is the making of scented bath fizzies.  Through the combination of several common household ingredients, students, as well as the general public (children to adults) are able to create this popular bath time product.  However, there lies a challenge in presenting the production of such products in a way that is accessible and environmentally friendly.  To curb this problem, an assembly line in which  baking soda, citric acid, cornstarch, and essential oils are thoroughly mixed to form bath fizzies.  This demonstration exploits the first, third, and tenth principles of green chemistry.  The first principle is focused around eliminating waste in the reaction process.  Systematically adding the ingredients through an assembly line with little to no excess ingredient usage and waste demonstrates this concept.  The use of common baking items such, baking soda and cornstarch, is illustrative of the third principle because exposure to harsher chemicals by the user is limited.  The activity is also an example of the tenth principle because of the safer byproducts that will be sent down the drain.  The fact that the waste will not introduce foreign species to the wastewater system also plays along with the ideas presented in the tenth principle.  This demonstration is overall a great example of how applicable the ideas presented in green chemistry are to common practices alongside being a great opportunity for the audience to get involved in the learning process.  This demo, along with all of the chapter’s other green chemistry demos, also make use of a green chemistry wheel.  When performing demos or educating the public about green chemistry, the UCA ACS student chapter always has a display of the 12 principles as well as a spinning wheel numbered 1 to 12.  Once the wheel is spun by someone, a question is asked concerning the corresponding principle.  Questions are designed with multiple difficulty levels, thus allowing for the education of all ages about green chemistry, thus showing the public how chemistry can be safe and help society.

Splashing into green C=chemistry with bath fizzies!

255th National Meeting (2018)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.