Dr. Wizard, aka Lawrence Mandresh, has visited our elementary schools here in Pine Bush, spreading his love of chemistry and all science. His enthusiasm is infectious and the students just love his ‘magic.’ He is quick to remind them that all magic has science to it!

 

 

 

Dr. Wizard actually reveals the magic as he does experiments for the students. Diapers, he explained, have a chemical in them that absorbs 100 times its weight in water. The chemical actually turns the water into a gel.

 

He mixed sodium chloride, which is table salt, into plain water and puts a light bulb on it. It lights up! Why? Because when salt dissolves in water, it separates into sodium and chloride ions, which act as electrolytes and allow electricity to flow.

 

 

 

Peroxide is a staple in homes. When it interacts with a certain enzyme under the skin, it bubbles, breaking down into water and oxygen. The oxygen gas is the bubbling in an infected area on the body and the wetness washes the infection away.

Peroxide is always sold in a brown bottle because sunlight can break it down, rendering it useless.

 

 

 

Air does funny things! A student was using a trombone mouthpiece and a ball to show air going around the ball, not pushing it away. While a hairdryer will put a ball in the air and keep it afloat.

 

 

Dr. Wizard held the kids’ attention and got them interested in not just what he was doing, but why and how it was happening! That’s second nature to him – he has a medical degree, a pharmacy degree and taught high school chemistry for more than 20 years. His love of science is on full display and he loves sharing it with kids of all ages.

 

Thank you to Dr. Wizard for sharing his expertise and love of science with our younger students!