photo by: John Young

Portraying Dr. Pyro, Kansas University sophomore Robby Sourk, of Hutchinson, puts on a fiery display for spectators attending the Frozen Flames University show during the 19th annual Carnival of Chemistry held in Malott Hall, 1251 Wescoe Hall Drive, Sunday afternoon.

If you have a young chemist on your hands — perhaps tinkering with baking soda or cornstarch at home — this weekend offers a chance for kids and their parents to experiment in a real science lab.

The Kansas University Department of Chemistry and the KU Chem Club are hosting the Carnival of Chemistry on Sunday. The event, now in its 20th year, includes about a dozen activities or interactive exhibits for children in kindergarten through eighth grade and their families.

Kids can make slime, see dry ice bubbles and build with molecular models, getting a chance to take part in the hands-on play before hearing an explanation of the chemistry behind each activity, said Roderick Black, director of laboratories for the KU department of chemistry.

photo by: John Young

Portraying Dr. Pyro, Kansas University sophomore Robby Sourk, of Hutchinson, puts on a fiery display for spectators attending the Frozen Flames University show during the 19th annual Carnival of Chemistry held in Malott Hall, 1251 Wescoe Hall Drive, Sunday afternoon.

“Chemists and chemists in training are on hand to talk about what’s happening,” Black said, noting that explanations will be tailored to different age levels.

Black said they tend to keep some of the favorite activities year to year, such as the mixing of certain liquids and glue to make the slime, and cornstarch and water to make “oobleck” — a substance with both liquid and solid properties. Even if kids have experimented at home with those substances, they may not have understood the chemistry behind it, Black said.

“For the younger kids, just putting their hands in it, they’re just amazed,” he added.

Another favorite is the activity with dry ice, which they put through a soap solution to produce bubbles, Black said.

“As they burst, the kids see the ice fog suspended in the air,” he said; then they can explain it.

photo by: John Young

Five-year-old Jaidon Cochran, left, uses gloves to hold a soapy bubble as six-year-old Isaiah Garcia, both of Lawrence, watches his bubble burst during the 19th annual Carnival of Chemistry held in Malott Hall, 1251 Wescoe Hall Drive, Sunday afternoon. The bubbles were made by mixing dry ice and hot water, causing it to sublimate, or change from a solid to a gas without melting. The gas was then used to fill a mixture of soapy water and glycerine to form the bubbles.

New this year is an activity with invisible ink, in which kids (and grownups) can write messages in the ink to reveal later.

“Because kids are with their parent or guardian, there is a family learning that takes place,” Black said.

The Carnival of Chemistry is free and open to public. The event will take place on Nov. 22 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Malott Hall, 1251 Wescoe Hall Drive. Parking is free and there are lots on either side of the building, as well as two others nearby. Lots 34, 35, 37 and 61 are the nearest to Malott Hall and a parking map is available here.