If you’re on the lookout for a quirky little something to do on a quiet afternoon, OMg. Have we got the place for you! Let us introduce you to the Periodic Museum Of The Elements in Greencastle, IndiaNa, and it’s pretty AUsome if we do say so ourselves.
Tucked up on the third floor of the Julian Science Center at DePaux University in Greencastle, it’s not so much a “museum” as it is a “display,” but that’s K. They get great reactions from visitors anyway!
DallasDad/TripAdvisor
The display consists of six-inch square cases, each containing one of the many building blocks of the universe itself.
ChemTeacherTraveller/TripAdvisor Of course, some are merely represented and not actually present - they couldn’t exactly put highly-radioactive and dangerous materials like Francium and alkynes of things like that on display to the public. Those types of elements are represented by models.
Each box shows the symbol, name, and atomic number of the element it represents.
DallasDad/TripAdvisor Also in the boxes are samples of the element (like we said, when reasonable!), something the element is utilized in that you might recognize, and other similar, easy-to-understand displays that make the magic of chemistry appeal to your average person. Chemistry aficionados will find themselves within their element here.
The display is the brainchild of Theodore Gray and Max Whitby and might be one of the more intriguing little-known attractions in the state.
DallasDad/TripAdvisor Some elements like Bismuth and iron sulfide (“Fool’s Gold”) tend to dazzle guests with their beauty and are photographed often.
Folks don’t usually expect things like boring old chemistry to be aesthetically interesting, and more often than not, the real-world examples of how some elements are utilized really help non-chemistry majors relate to the science in an efficient way.
DallasDad/TripAdvisor Do we think you’ll be bored at all? Na.
Overall, we Ar pretty excited about this unique find!
fritzmb/Flickr We think guests will enjoy stopping in periodically to check it out. (We didn’t mean to do that pun that time. That one was an oxidant.)
Now that we’re finished making you Sulphur through this write-up (which strikes us as sodium funny), we’d better give you links! Check out the short and sweet website for the display here. From there, you can click around and explore the elements yourself before your visit.
DallasDad/TripAdvisor
ChemTeacherTraveller/TripAdvisor
Of course, some are merely represented and not actually present - they couldn’t exactly put highly-radioactive and dangerous materials like Francium and alkynes of things like that on display to the public. Those types of elements are represented by models.
Also in the boxes are samples of the element (like we said, when reasonable!), something the element is utilized in that you might recognize, and other similar, easy-to-understand displays that make the magic of chemistry appeal to your average person. Chemistry aficionados will find themselves within their element here.
Some elements like Bismuth and iron sulfide (“Fool’s Gold”) tend to dazzle guests with their beauty and are photographed often.
Do we think you’ll be bored at all? Na.
fritzmb/Flickr
We think guests will enjoy stopping in periodically to check it out. (We didn’t mean to do that pun that time. That one was an oxidant.)
Have you ever been to the Periodic Display of the Elements? Did you think it was interesting? Tell us your thoughts in the comments.
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Address: 204 E Seminary St, Greencastle, IN 46135, USA