May 18, 2019 "The Chemistry of Energy!" Prof. Steve George
All kinds of energy conversions will be observed and discussed during "The Chemistry of Energy." The show will demonstrate how lightning bugs convert chemical energy to light energy and how hydrogen can be produced by electrolysis and then reacted to produce energy. Ethanol will be combusted with oxygen to illustrate the "ethanol car" and a photovoltaic panel will be used to run a model car in a demonstration of solar energy conversion. Orange juice will be used to power a clock and vegetable oil will be reacted to make biodiesel fuel. The show will explain how plants harvest sunlight and why plants are green. We will also learn about the origin of coal and oil from photosynthetic organisms.