2010 - Chemical & Biomedical Engineering - University of South ...

Cay Pelaez: Retirement — 3.11.87 - 12.9.09
As I look over the past 23+ years at USF, having built many meaningful relationships with faculty,
students and co-workers, I take with me into retirement the many rewards of the past years at
USF as they have been outstanding and memorable. I was employed by FMHI: Center for
Prevention of Child Molestation, Computer Science & Engineering and for the last ten years, in
Chemical & Biomedical Engineering, a career of lifelong fantastic memories. I want to take this
opportunity to thank YOU for allowing me to be a small part of the department’s development
and growth. The faculty and students are terrific individuals making this department very
enjoyable to work in, and I couldn’t have done it without my great co-workers. I know this
department is one of the greatest at USF! I am excited about traveling in the near future and
have planned several trips, and thanks to all who have contributed to the “gas fund” to get me
across the country ...USA bound! Again, my thanks to YOU.
- Cay Pelaez
USF Engineering Expo
The Engineering Expo is a yearly
event that educates students from
kindergarten all the way to high school,
about several different science and engineering
topics. Many students from the
engineering societies here at USF take
time to organize activities or presentations
for the event.
The three events
that draw the
biggest crowds every
year are the physics
show, the laser light
show, and the chemistry
magic show.
Like many times before,
the AIChE
planned and ran a
successful chemistry
magic show. This
year’s show consisted
of six experiments:
color changing water, elephant
toothpaste, liquid nitrogen, the white
light, the whoosh bottle, and the exploding
gummy bear. The color changing
water demonstrated how chemistry uses
color indicators to know the acidity of a
solution. This was accomplished by showing
how “ordinary” water would change
into different colors based on the small
changes of acid and base inside of the
chemical solution. The elephant toothpaste
showed that by mixing a strong
acid, a base and some ordinary liquid detergent
with a little color agent, enormous
amounts of colored foam would
come out. For the third experiment, we
showed how temperature affects materials
more than one would possibly think.
We dipped bananas, flowers, and badminton
balls into the liquid nitrogen, let
it rest for a few minutes, and then
showed how easily they shattered. The
white light experiment was more of a
light effect. Magnesium was burnt inside
of two cubes of dry ice, creating this
spectacular iridescent
light.
The whoosh
bottle explained
the
concept of
volatile liquids.
Ethanol was
placed into a
large water jug
and moved
around so the
ethanol would
coat the walls.
As it was being
moved, the crowd was chanting whoosh.
Afterwards a lighter was placed into the
opening and a fire “whooshed” out of
the bottle.
The exploding
gummy bear experiment
was our last and flashiest
of experiments.
It involved the reaction of a molten
salt with a gummy bear. The amount of
color, energy, and steam released left the
crowd in awe of the unexpected reaction.
Overall, all of those who attended
loved the show and couldn’t wait for
next year’s Expo.
p7