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IN A FLASH: This is CHEM-O-WEEN!

Chem-O-Ween 2025
Zach Boggs, senior academic laboratory manager in Kent State's Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, as Beetlejuice, began the event with a FLASH by telling jokes and igniting a hydrogen-filled ballon. 

 

Bubbling chemicals, fog and FIRE were all part of the festive fun at the fifth annual Chem-O-Ween event, hosted by Kent State's Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry on Oct. 24 in Williams Hall and the Integrated Sciences Building.

Chem-O-Ween 2025
Adding dry ice to an indicator chemical will cause a color change in the liquid. 

 

The department's students and faculty provided contests, trivia, themed refreshments and a scavenger hunt that gave students a chance to win prizes for attending all of the four scientific demonstrations during the event. 

Chem-O-Ween 2025
This demonstration shows how to "release a genie from a bottle," through the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide. 
Chem-O-Ween 2025
In the "Frozen Wasteland," liquid nitrogen was used to create an "indoor cloud."

 

Demonstrations took place in four, themed labs. The "Frozen Wasteland" room featured icy decorations and a chemistry student dressed as a polar bear. Student volunteers could participate in different experiments in which different items became ice - right before their eyes!

Chem-O-Ween 2025
Don't try this at home! In "The Dragon's Lair," chemistry students show how to safely hold fire in their hands without being burned. 
Chem-O-Ween 2025

 

In "The Dragon's Lair," the demonstration involved learning how different items burn - with spectacular results. 

Chem-O-Ween 2025

 

Demonstrations in the other rooms include color-changing chemicals and making slime. 

Chem-O-Ween 2025

 

Zach Boggs, senior academic laboratory manager in Kent State's Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, dressed as Beetlejuice for the event. He said that the event and it's dynamic demonstrations are a fun invitation to learn more about chemistry, science and STEM education. The Halloween theme plays into Boggs' concept of "theater meets science." "And who can do Halloween better than the chemistry department?" Boggs said. 

Chem-O-Ween 2025
Zach Boggs (center) with some of the student employees who assisted in presenting Chem-O-Ween 2025. 

 

Special thanks to Zach Boggs, senior academic laboratory manager in Kent State's Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry for sharing this story and pictures. 

Want to see YOUR photos in 鈥淚N A FLASH?鈥 Submit your Kent State-related photos to InAFlash@kent.edu and you may see them in a future 麻豆精选Today post. Photos should be framed -horizontally- and include a brief description of what鈥檚 happening in the photo along with when and where it was taken.

POSTED: Monday, November 3, 2025 11:28 AM
Updated: Monday, November 3, 2025 02:14 PM
WRITTEN BY:
Phil B. Soencksen
PHOTO CREDIT:
麻豆精选 Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry