The Chemistry Club and the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry will conduct their 27th annual Chemistry Circus Friday, giving the Abilene community and campus visitors an opportunity to see a fun side of chemistry as part of the university’s Homecoming festivities.

Daniel Weido, senior biology and pre-med major from Spring and president of the Chemistry Club, said this will be his fourth year to participate in the event.

“It is an event where kids from local elementary and middle schools can come and see how fun chemistry can be and families can experience the Chemistry Club together,” said Weido.

The circus includes various experiments with different chemicals and fiery explosions.

“There will be a lot of fire and a lot of bang, which is always fun to see people’s reactions,” Weido said.

The circus brought out several hundred people in the past, and the department is anticipating another strong turnout this year.

“It’s awesome to see the kids’ reactions and see them having fun as they learn about chemistry,” said Weido.

While many of the spectators are families from Abilene, students are also interested in the excitement the circus brings to the department.

“Chemistry wasn’t my favorite subject growing up, but this is a good way for people to enjoy the subject and see how interesting chemistry can be,” said Alain-Pierre Ntahonkiriye, senior business major from Bujumbura, Burundi.

The event provides a way for students in the department to show off what they have learned in an entertaining way, as well as show underclassmen in the department just how interesting chemistry can be.

Quentin Bryant, freshman environmental science and biology major from Waco, said he looking forward to seeing what the club will do in the circus.

“I’m definitely interested in the circus because I want to learn how things work and the different chemical reactions that go on and the cool things they can produce,” Bryant said.

Weido said other people of the ACU community also think the event is a great way to get people involved and excited about chemistry. He said people who are not connected to the department become curious what the circus will hold and how it will showcase the Chemistry Club.

Professors in the department and several students in the club will demonstrate the experiments for the crowd.

Experiments include everything from the classic baking soda and vinegar reactions to elephant toothpaste, dancing gummy bears and the popular chemiluminescence reaction.

“It’s a really fun event, I think it will be a good one this year,” said Sarah Lee, assistant professor of biochemistry.

The Chemistry Circus will take place on Friday at 6:30 p.m. in the Walling Lecture Hall of the Foster Science Building.