[Donaldson Tan]

Anybody going? I wouldn't mind to take this as an opportunity to meet anyone from the forum. I think it will be fun.

“The Magic of Chemistry”

A Free Pyrotechnics event presented by Dr Malcolm Armstrong

Produced by IChemE London & South East Branch

and Co-sponsored by the Royal Society of Chemistry

Date: Fri 3rd June 2005 7:30pm

Venue: The Chemistry Theatre, UCL,

Christopher Ingold Building in Gordon Street

Here's the address:
University College London
Gower Street
London WC1E 6BT, UK

Alternatively, here's a website on how to go to UCL:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/UCL-Info/AboutUCL/Transport.html

[hmx9123]

I'd like to go, but I'm a little far away.  It irritates me when I see the word 'magic' used in reference to chemistry or pyrotechnics.  C'mon, that's from alchemy.  This is science.  There's no magic about it.  I guess it just reminds me of those chemical demos I've seen before with NO explanation, just the flashy demo, like it's magic.  Who cares?  It looks neat, but why should I care since it's not even related to what we're talking about on that day?  OK, soapbox mode is off.

[Donaldson Tan]

the word "magic" contains an element of mystery. perhaps you have such a thorough scientific understanding of pyrotechnics science that you can no longer appreciate the beauty of the mysterious evolution of heat and light. It's no longer an unknown to you. As much that I know an explosion consist of heat, light, shock waves, etc, I am still so amazed by its magic, that so little substance can contain so much energy to do something like that.

[hmx9123]

I can appreciate the 'magic' in that light.  I usually think of 'magic' as hoodwinking the uneducated or ignorant, though, and that I don't like.