The Milwaukee Section of the American Chemical Society announced the winners of a recent competition for high school students. The event, held in conjunction with National Chemistry Week in November, was an internet scavenger hunt for connections between chemistry and art. The first place team of Lauren Harkness and Lisa Myatt was from University Lake School. The second place team of Laura Holcomb and David Lemon was from Cedarburg High School. Finally, the third place team of Ellery Brooks and Kristen Jansen was from New Berlin West High School.

The theme for National Chemistry Week was the Chemistry of Art. Example questions that were researched on the internet and answered include, (1) Sterling silver is sometimes used in artistic jewelry. What is the composition of this alloy? What is its melting point? (2) Johann Sebastian Bach used iron-gall ink when he wrote his music compositions. What chemical provided the iron of this ink? What plant provided the "gall"? (3) What is the chemical composition of the pigment that is called Egyptian Blue?

Answers to these and 22 other questions can be found at http://alchemy.chem.uwm.edu/amalgamator/NCW/ncw2001/index.html

National Chemistry Week is an activity of the American Chemical Society. The American Chemical Society is the largest scientific society in the world and is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year.

Contact: Dr. Thomas Holme, Chemistry Department, UW-Milwaukee, Milwaukee Section Chair of National Chemistry Week. e-mail: tholme@uwm.edu, phone (414) 229-3970, FAX (414) 229-5530