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Fair treats onlookers to chemistry in action The results of chemistry are everywhere, but people seldom notice the chemistry itself.  About 125 children and a number of adults saw chemistry in action Saturday, Nov. 13, on the portico in front of the MUSC Administration Library Building.  Participants, some responding to a Post and Courier announcement and many who were just visiting friends in the hospital, gathered to watch demonstrations and to conduct a little hands-on chemistry for themselves.  The second annual National Chemistry Week Fair was hosted by the Charleston sub-section of the South Carolina section of the American Chemical Society. Presenters responsible for the activities included faculty and students from the College of Charleston Department of Chemistry, employees from Bayer Corp., faculty from the MUSC College of Pharmacy and students from Porter Gaud.  Materials for several of the activities were contributed by Ashley Hall School. Each group set up tables with various demonstrations and stations for hands-on chemistry activities. Betsy Martin, Ph.D., an associate professor at the College of Charleston joined forces with Ashley Hall.  She arranged to have a group of 38 College of Charleston students set up experiments to involve children in exploring topics.  These experiments included the densities of liquids and gasses with mini-“lava” bottles and “heavy” soap bubbles, as well as color seen in simple chromatography and based on pH with the “bloody” hand experiment, and polymer behavior with making SLIME and putting skewers through balloons.  Mark Johnson and his group of Bayer Corp. employees had several experiments including ones that continued the series on gases by freezing kale to -196ºC and smashing it (a favorite experiment among some children), producing instant ice cream with liquid nitrogen, and shooting off carbon dioxide powered cannons.  Julian McGill, Ph.D.,  of the College of Pharmacy presented two science shows, leading three area science teachers to request that he present his demonstrations to their science classes this spring.  The annual fair was open to the public whose interest in the demonstrations pushed the event more than an hour past schedule.  “The program was an overwhelming success” said Patrick Meier, Ph.D.  “It was a pleasant surprise to see how many of the children of hospital visitors participated.”  The program will run again next year during National Chemistry Week.