Firework science at the library

Demonstrations of visual science entertained and educated those in attendance at Havre-Hill County Library Tuesday evening.

Carol Pleninger, a science teacher at Havre High School, gave her presentation of visual chemical reactions to a crowd of children at the library and explained some of the science behind the reactions.

Pleninger burned different chemicals to produce different-colored flames, much like the chemicals that are put into fireworks to give them their distinctive colors. Strontium yielded a red flame and barium yielded green - a favorite among the crowd gathered in the dark room.

Similar chemicals were burned in a petri dish inside a mesh cylinder, which was spun to create vortexes of different-colored flames like green fire whirls, adding to the excitement of the children.

The presentation was a part of the library's summer reading program, this year named "Fizz Boom Read" for its emphasis on the sciences.

The children participating in Tuesday's demonstration got a ticket to win prizes available through the program, such as baskets of various items like Mancala game boards and crystal-growing kits.

Next, the children in the program will be making their own bottle rockets that they will launch at the Havre Middle School track July 16.

Pleninger said that she gives demonstrations like the one she gave at the library whenever she is asked, and she has given them to the Boy Scouts of America, the schools of Havre and the Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line, beside her annual presentations in her own classroom.