Chemistry students will hold chemical demonstrations for the public at 8 p.m. tonight in Faraday Hall, Room 143.

As part of National Chemistry Week, which began Oct. 17 and ends Oct. 23, NIU is hosting this event for people to become more interested in the chemistry department and chemistry in general. Michael Spires, the coordinator for recruitment and public relations in the chemistry department, said he hopes there will be a big turnout.

“Students can expect a little bit of whimsy, a lot of fun and a different approach to many of the same chemical principles that are taught in their courses,” Spires said.

Every semester, there is a theme that the demonstrators choose to follow and this semester’s theme is “Health and Wellness.” Different chemical experiments will teach people various nutritional facts, as well as detailed information about chemical properties. The students involved were chosen by their professors to show their demonstrations based on the overall experiment and whether or not it is done in a timely manner.

The main goal of this event is not only to inform the general public about chemistry, but to help students in introductory chemistry classes as well. The department is hoping that if a lot of chemistry students come to the demonstrations, they will do better on tests and get a better understanding of the terms and formulas they are studying.

“Research shows that students retain information better if it is presented to them in several different ways,” Spires said. “And what better way than a demonstration that involves colors, flashes and bangs – it is a lot more memorable than a formula on the page of a textbook or a five minute presentation in a lecture.”

The chemistry department has been doing these demonstrations for the public for the past five years, but since 1970, chemistry classes have been doing these demonstrations as an instructional aid for students.

National statistics show the current population of chemists is aging and fewer chemistry majors graduate from colleges each year.

Spires said he thinks students don’t like chemistry and would be happy if they went away with a better understanding of some of the chemical principles that impact their daily lives, as well as the role that chemists play in society.

“Chemistry plays a vital role in absolutely everything we do, and people should be more aware of the role chemistry plays in their lives,” he said.

The department is planning on about 10 demonstrations, but some may be cut due to time constraints or lack of materials.