The Dept. of Chemistry Brings the Chemistry of 1776 to Life

The Department of Chemistry brought the chemistry of 1776 to life on April 2nd during the First Thursdays Spring Festival at the Fine Arts Plaza, engaging visitors and the campus community with hands-on demonstrations centered on the discovery of oxygen. As part of IU’s broader 1776 Trail, the program invited the public to explore how a pivotal scientific breakthrough unfolded alongside the political transformations of the late 18th century, highlighting the parallel revolutions in how people understood both matter and society.

Organized by Professor Sara Skrabalak and the Department’s Outreach Coordinator, Rick Armstrong, the activity featured interactive experiments and demonstrations, led by graduate student volunteers, focused on reactions that generate or utilize oxygen. Crowd favorites included “Elephant Toothpaste,” where rapid oxygen release creates an explosive burst of foam; steel wool combustion, a striking demonstration of how oxygen drives burning; the “Death of a Gummy Bear,” a dramatic, high-energy reaction that vividly showcases oxygen’s reactivity; and “floating candle” experiments, which revealed how oxygen supports and sustains a flame. Beyond their visual impact, these demonstrations point to what made the discovery of oxygen truly revolutionary: the shift from qualitative observation to quantitative chemistry, where careful measurement of mass and gases replaced earlier speculative frameworks. These activities were presented alongside educational materials that provided historical context for the shift from phlogiston theory to modern chemistry. Positioned within the larger First Thursdays event, which celebrates arts and humanities through performances, exhibits, and community programming, the department’s contribution underscored how scientific discovery is part of a broader cultural and intellectual landscape that continues to shape the world today.