Side Quest: Chemistry Lab Brings Glowing Science to Phoenix Fan Fusion

On Sunday, June 7, the Central Arizona Section of the American Chemical Society brought hands-on chemistry to an unlikely venue: Phoenix Fan Fusion. Held in the Cosmic Academy at the Phoenix Convention Center, "Side Quest: Chemistry Lab" gave more than 50 participants the chance to build their own glowing slime jars, no chemistry background required.

What Participants Made

Each participant built a sealed jar of glowing, color-shifting slime using clear PVA glue, a crosslinking solution, glow-in-the-dark glitter, and UV-reactive mica powder suspended in mineral oil. Under UV light, the jars lit up with a mix of fluorescence and phosphorescence, giving participants a jar that kept glowing even after the lights came back on.

Along the way, participants got an accessible introduction to real chemistry concepts: how borate ions form hydrogen bonds that link polymer chains together, why the slime behaves like a non-Newtonian fluid, and how oil and water based materials separate because of polarity. The goal was to make these ideas visible and tactile rather than abstract, in a room full of people who came for a comic convention, not a science class.

Behind the Scenes

The workshop was co-presented with science educator Ky the Chemist and powered by 11 volunteers who staffed tables, walked participants through each step, and managed color distribution using a ticket system so every jar could be customized. Volunteers also handled the final step of sealing each jar with superglue, so participants left with a finished, ready-to-display piece.

The event was made possible by a 2025 Inclusion and Belonging Grant, which supported the goal of reaching families and fans of all ages, including those with no prior exposure to chemistry.

A Reusable Model

Beyond the event itself, CAZ ACS developed the workshop's materials, presenter guides, volunteer training documents, and science references, as a template other ACS sections can adapt for their own outreach events. The aim is for "Build a Glow Jar" to have a life beyond this one Sunday in June.