Practical Chemistry

Phillip Schaefer

Tuesdays, Noon - 2:00 p.m.
March 23 - May 11, 2004
D.O.C. House

Ever wonder why chocolate melts, then solidifies again if it gets too hot, or why dough gets tough or doesn't rise? It's all due to chemistry, and a little understanding will go a long way to avoiding some problems and ensuring success.

From children's games to hearing aids, so many things depend on batteries. They come in many sizes and types, disposable or rechargeable. Relatively new ones contain lithium — didn't you think lithium was for depression? So why is it so good for batteries? What's next in the world of these portable electrical generators we call batteries?

We're going to explore the basics of chemistry and expand our understanding of the everyday processes that help us enjoy life — all without a text, but not without reading and discussion.

Class is limited to 20 members.

Phillip Schaefer is a graduate of Dartmouth and Caltech, where he studied chemistry and more chemistry. He split his professional life between academe and the pharmaceutical industry. He retired with his wife Mary Lou to the Upper Valley from New Jersey in 1998. They both have thoroughly enjoyed taking ILEAD classes. This is his first from the other side of the rostrum.