Who Said Chemistry’s Boring?

By Laurie Borst

On Monday, October 23, Denise Mendoza’s chemistry students at Newtown High School celebrated Mole Day. Around the world, chemists, chemistry students and teachers fete Avogadro’s Number, 6.02 x 10^23. This number is a measurement of the number atoms or molecules in a given sample.

This year’s theme for Mole Day was Mole Madness. Students colored pictures of a mole shooting hoops. Rachel Rockwell won a prize for best coloring. The future chemists played “Pin the Nose on the Mole.”

A pumpkin carved with a mole shooting a basketball decorated one table. A variety of foods, including molehill cupcakes, were available.

Stuffed moles were created, including Lord Mole-de-mort and the Rockin’ Mole inspired by the bassist for the band, OK Go. Libby Feltch was honored for designing a mole day T-shirt. Tyler Adams told mole jokes (What kind of night cream do moles use? Oil of Mole-ay).

This class of juniors are in its second year of studying chemistry. The students took chemistry as sophomores and are now in advanced placement chemistry. They are future doctors, pharmacists, and chemical engineers. Two other classes were scheduled for celebrations later in the day.

Some groups begin Mole Day celebrations with breakfast at 6:02 am. The festivities continue until 6:02 pm. For more information on Mole Day, or joining the National Mole Day Foundation, visit moleday.org.