Fort Lewis College senior Kyser Seaney hopes to become a high school chemistry teacher after graduation.
On Thursday, Seaney gave a presentation on the energetics involved in chemical reactions and the bond energies of ions as part of the Undergraduate Research & Creative Activities Symposium at FLC.
He created an explosion for his demonstration by holding a match to a hydrogen-filled balloon.
A balloon purchased from a vendor is filled with helium – a gas similar to air but lighter – causing it to rise.
Hydrogen is another gas lighter than air, but it is not used in balloons because it burns easily.
When a match is held near a helium-filled balloon, the balloon pops. But when a match is held near a hydrogen-filled balloon, it will explode.
“It’s always awesome to see an explosion,” Seaney said. “That explosion was to demonstrate why you want to know the bond energies.”
Presentations varied by major and included topics surrounding music, design, ecofeminism and psychology.
Senior Julia Orluk explored possible treatment options for caseous lymphadenitis, a contagious bacterial infection of the lymph nodes of sheep and goats.
The only treatment to date is to quarantine and cull affected animals.
Symposium moderator Kim Hannula said all undergraduate students are required to do some form of independent work before graduation.
“Some of them, like the arts students, will talk about the work they’ve done throughout their entire career here,” she said. “Others have been working in a lab for two semesters or longer.”
The projects are driven by students’ interests and passions, Hannula said.
mrupani@durangoherald.com
