A group of students conduct magical experiments in a classroom.

Zheming Zhang and Andy Fong Demonstrate Bernoulli’s Principle.

Photo by John Dolhun

A group of students conduct magical experiments in a classroom.

Zheming Zhang Marches Away to the Prince of Denmark March after Pouring 6 Liters of Hot Water Onto 30 Pounds of CO2.

Photo by Jennifer Weisman

John Dolhun stands in a darkened room illuminated by an orange chemical reaction.

John Dolhun Prepares to Light a Combustion Reaction Producing Around 405 KJ of Energy during the playing of some Boston Pops Fireworks Music.

Photo by Jennifer Weisman

A group of students conduct magical experiments in a classroom.

Kevin Liu Makes an Appearance in a Beaver Suite wearing a Caltech Sweatshirt, Zheming Zhang is Beisde himself.

Photo by Jennifer Weisman

A dark room is illuminated only by a red ball of light.

Andy Fong and Anna Liu Create Chemiluminescence.

Photo by Jennifer Weisman

Michaela wears a lab coat and eye protection and stands behind a glass tube filled with white foam.

Michaela Olimene Performs The Classic Elephant Toothpaste Reaction.

Photo by Jennifer Weisman

A beaker emits steam.

John Dolhun Sets Off a Hydrogen Peroxide Decomposition Reaction Using a catalyst.

Photo by Jennifer Weisman

A group of students conduct magical experiments in a classroom.

Anna Liu Pulls an Egg into a Flask Reducing the Pressure Inside by Cooling with Liquid Nitrogen.

Photo by John Dolhun

A group of students conduct magical experiments in a classroom.

Kevin Liu Blows into a Flask Increasing Pressure Inside Causing an Egg to Shoot Out which he catches directly between his lips.

Photo by John Dolhun

A group of students conduct magical experiments in a classroom.

Andy Fong, Zheming Zhang, Anna Liu, Madavin Vong Creating Fogg.

Photo by John Dolhun

A group of students conduct magical experiments in a classroom.

Amanda Trainor and John Dolhun Prepare to Liquify Air.

Photo by Jennifer Weisman

A group of students conduct magical experiments in a classroom.

Kevin Liu, Michaela Olimene, Anna Liu, John Dolhun, Zheming Zhang, & Andy Fong.

Photo by Jennifer Weisman

MIT’s Annual Campus Preview Weekend Entertains Prospective Students with ‘Marvelous Molecules in Play’ Chemistry Demonstrations

by Department of Chemistry |
Categories: Events, Research, Staff, Students

Dr. John Dolhun (PhD '73), Director of the Undergraduate Teaching Lab, treated an audience to a magical series of experiments.

MIT’s Department of Chemistry recently showcased an array of chemistry demonstrations as part of the annual Campus Preview Weekend (CPW), an event dedicated to giving newly admitted first year students and their parents a glimpse of the Institute. The chemistry demonstration program, titled “Marvelous Molecules in Play,” was held at Building 56, room 114, attracting an audience of approximately forty.

The event was overseen by John Dolhun, Director of the Undergraduate Chemistry Laboratory, who warmly welcomed the Class of 2028. “Today is about exploration, inspiration, and maybe a little bit of magic.”

The team included – Amanda Traitor, UGTL Lab Manager; members of the MIT Chemistry Club: Andy Fong, Zheming Zhang, Kevin Liu, Anna Liu, and Michaela Olimene; and Madavin Vong and Jennifer Weisman from the chemistry education office. The chemistry department joined the campus wide events and orchestrated a series of experiments.

Highlights of the event included:

  • Liquifying Air—Rainbow Connection
  • What’s Inside a Lightbulb?
  • Bernoulli’s Principle and The Diaper Connection
  • Superconductors and The Briggs-Rauscher Reaction
  • Combustion of Isopropyl Alcohol and Chemiluminescence
  • The Big Gun

The event culminated in a grand finale featuring a humorous skit by the MIT Chemistry Club. The skit humorously depicted the life of a student committed to wearing a beaver costume day and night if they chose Caltech. This lighthearted performance reminded all prospective students of the vibrant and innovative spirit that defines the MIT community.

The Campus Preview Weekend continues to be an essential part of MIT’s outreach to prospective students, providing them with a firsthand experience of the vibrant academic and community life at MIT.