By Kyle Peveto, Staff Writer

Exploding Gummi Bears, colored smoke and fire and ice reactions will be exhibited at 6:30 p.m. Friday in Walling Lecture Hall as part of the 16th annual Chemistry Circus.

Chemists will display the more exciting side of chemistry for all students and visitors to campus who are interested in explosions and fires.

Chemistry students will display “things people outside the chemistry world don’t get to see,” said Kim Pamplin, associate professor of chemistry.

Highlights of the annual circus are: the “barking dogs,” liquid nitrogen reactions, a Gummi Bear rocket engine, hydrogen balloon explosions and the grand finale, a thermite reaction that will produce enough energy to melt iron. The thermite reaction will force the circus outside because of the fumes produced by the reaction.

The Chemistry Circus will also demonstrate experiments that can be done at home.

“We always push safety,” Pamplin said.

The circus is expected to last 30 to 40 minutes, allowing the audience to be “out on time to go to the musical,” Pamplin said.