By Regina Malczewski

I nsects are found almost everywhere and in all

environments. They inhabited the earth before the
dinosaurs — and are still with us today! We know of about
1 million species, but biologists think there are over 90 times
that many that we just haven’t yet classified! Insects make up
Insect chemistry can be “enlightening” (fireflies), sticky,
destructive, or deadly (termites and insect venom). One benefit
of insects is the beauty and wonder they provide. What would
we do without butterflies? Their wings are very special: highly
waterproof and made of tiny crystals that interact with light.
more than 80% of all living things on earth, and altogether The top hard shell of the jewel (wood-boring) beetle is similarly
weigh 70 times more than all the people do. That’s a lot to buzz iridescent and is used for necklaces — and believe it or not, in
about! some places, people even wear these insects as live decorations!
We should probably talk about the word bug. It is used in But insects are also busy doing more. Bees make honey
different ways, and not all of them are accurate. True bugs are and are responsible for pollinating $15 billion worth of U.S.
a type of insect that has a straw-shaped mouth and segmented crops every year. Insects are a protein-rich food and are even
antennae, like stink bugs and bedbugs. On the other hand, considered delicacies in some places. Some bugs provide
people often use the word bug to describe any kind of creepy- chemicals or chemical mixtures that we use for items from
crawly pest, like spiders or centipedes … even though they are lipsticks and nail polishes to dyes. Think of the silkworm,
not insects at all! cultivated since 2,600 BC. Its silk has been harvested for use
Insect body parts have names a lot like ours — the head, in sutures (also known as stitches), parachutes, and clothing.
thorax (chest), and abdomen. But insects are also very different Post-harvest leftovers are used to feed livestock, and the worm
from us in many ways, including: itself is fried and available as street food in China.
• They have a hard outer skeleton, instead of an internal Insects can also “bug” us — they eat crops, they can cause
one like humans. All insects have six legs that have joints, disease, and their bites or stings sometimes cause allergic
compound eyes, and one pair of antennae. Creatures with reactions. Termites attack about 600,000 U.S. homes each year,
different numbers of legs (such as spiders or centipedes) and billions of dollars are spent either to prevent infestation or
might look similar to insects, but are actually in a different repair their damage. Their “spit” contains chemicals (enzymes)
group. that break down the cellulose in wood, with help from microbes
• They use their compound eyes to sense the world around that live in their guts. Special chemicals called pheromones are
them. Their eyes don’t see as well as ours, but they do used by some insects to attract mates or communicate. These
provide sight in many directions at one time. Meanwhile, chemicals can be used to trap or manage pests like the gypsy
their antennae can sense touch, air motion, heat, sound, moth, which has destroyed more than a million acres of forest
and chemical compounds that represent taste or smell. per year in the United States since 1980.
• Insects usually start out as eggs that grow into worm-like The next time you hear buzzing, consider the diversity and
larvae before they grow wings and take final form. The impact of all the insects that live on our planet. Important to
Splendor beetle spends 30 years in the larval stage! chemistry, ecology, and so much more, let’s take a bow to bugs!
Be both a chemist and an entomologist (a scientist who studies
Most insects have wings, and when they rub their wings insects), and learn about the insects mentioned in this article and
together they make a buzzing sound. Dragonflies can fly up more in this issue of Celebrating Chemistry. And keep buzzing
to 18 mph (29 km/h), and each of their four wings can move about insect chemistry for Chemists Celebrate Earth Week 2022!
separately for astounding flight ability. They have the largest
eyes of all insects — with 30,000 “facets” — that take up so Regina Malczewski, Ph.D. is a retired biochemist who worked
much of the head they look like a helmet. at Dow Corning Corporation in Midland, MI.

2
Pollinators Wanted!
By Sara M. Delgado Rivera

P lants are one of the main sources of food for humans

and many other living organisms. They also absorb
carbon dioxide from the air and give us oxygen through
a chemical process called photosynthesis. In addition, they give
us shade and delight us with their colorful flowers and leaves.
Protecting pollinators is incredibly important to our survival.
Farmers spend millions of dollars each year to make sure
there are enough bees or other insects to pollinate their crops
successfully. Insect pollinators are being affected by shrinking
habitats and food supplies, due to deforestation and high
The health and reproduction of plants are important to all of us! urbanization, in addition to the atmospheric effects of global
Seed plants need both male parts and female parts to warming and the excessive use of pesticides and other poisons.
reproduce. When this happens, it starts the process that There are many ways you can help to conserve pollinators.
produces seeds, fruits, and finally a new plant. The male parts Here are some tips:
produce a dusty powder called pollen. This pollen needs to be 1. Make your own home garden or help to maintain or
transferred to the female parts in a process called pollination. A create a community or school garden that is friendly
few plants can perform self-pollination, but over three-quarters to pollinators. There are some organizations like P2
of the flowering plants on earth need help with this process. (Pollinators Partnership), that can help you choose the
The work of transporting pollen can be carried out by plants that will best attract pollinators in your area.
wind, water, or different living organisms, called pollinators. 2. You can consume honey and other organic products from
Pollinators pick up pollen from one flower and carry it to local farmers to support them and their farms.
another. There are a variety of living organisms that can 3. Spread the word and teach others about the importance
perform this important work, including birds, bats, and other and necessity of protecting pollinators. We need them as
small mammals, but the most common are insects. much as they need us!
The most familiar type of pollinating insect are bees, but
there are many other insects that also work as pollinators, and Sara M. Delgado Rivera is a chemistry professor at University
not all of them pollinate the same type of plants. Did you know of Puerto Rico at Rio Piedras, University of Sagrado Corazon,
that mango trees are primarily pollinated by a type of fly, known and University of Ana G. Méndez, Carolina Campus.
as a fruit fly? In addition to flies, butterflies, moths, beetles, and
even wasps are also pollinators.

• A
 sk an adult for permission to do the activity and for • T ie back long hair and secure loose clothing, such as
help when necessary. long sleeves and drawstrings.
• Read all directions and safety recommendations • Do not eat or drink food when conducting this
before starting the activity. activity.
• Wear appropriate personal protective equipment • Clean up and dispose of materials properly when
(safety glasses, at a minimum), including during you are finished with the activity.
preparation and clean up. • Thoroughly wash hands after conducting the activity.

3
 A Bug Buffet?
By Regina Malczewski

E ntomophagy is practiced by over two billion people worldwide — and no, it’s not an internet trend — it’s
bug-eating! Using insects for food is common in tropical places where bugs or their larvae (immature forms)
are large; some larvae can be 5½ inches (14 cm) long. The 1,900 species that are eaten are considered tasty
by those who consume them. About one-third of the insects that people eat are beetles, followed in popularity by
butterflies or moths (as caterpillars), bees, wasps, and ants.
As the world population grows (it will reach between 9 and 10 billion people by 2050), and with over one billion
people currently going hungry worldwide, we need to consider new food sources for the future.
Eating insects is preferable to eating cattle, for several reasons. They cause less environmental damage, because
forests aren’t cut down to raise them, and they don’t give off greenhouse gases. They reproduce and develop much
faster. And they convert the food they eat into edible tissue five times more efficiently. They can also be grown on
waste and are less likely than Western food sources to pass on diseases to people.
But are insects good for you to eat? Their nutritional value depends on their developmental stage, their habitat, and
their diet — but some (like mealworms) have the same protein, vitamin, and mineral content as fish or meat. Termites
are high in fat, but their protein content is higher than beef. In addition, bugs don’t have to be eaten whole. In Africa,
you can snack on locust legs that have been crushed and mixed with peanut butter and salt — yum! Most bugs are
prepared by boiling or frying. Crickets can be roasted and ground to make a protein powder. Mixed with starches from
cassava or coconuts, cricket flour can increase the protein content of baked goods.
Insects are not yet grown broadly for food, though. Not enough research has been done to decide what kinds of
insects would be best, and which would be most economical to produce for consumption. Besides that, insects, like
other food sources, are being affected by pollution, loss of habitat, and climate change.
Before you turn up your nose at the thought of eating insects, you should know that you already do! The U.S. Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) allows a certain amount of contamination in the food we eat. A one-ounce box of raisins
in your lunch, on average, contains four fruit fly eggs and one whole insect! It’s estimated that Americans eat about
two pounds of bugs per year in foods like spinach, broccoli, rice, and pasta.
Insects have been feeding people for thousands of years, and may become more important in our diets as time goes
on. You might even see grasshoppers or beetles on the menu at your favorite restaurant in the near future. Bon appetit!

Regina Malczewski, Ph.D. is a retired biochemist who worked at Dow Corning Corporation in Midland, MI.

4
 By Veronica I. Jaramillo

Bugs to Dye For and Kit Cheung

Introduction Safety Suggestions

H ave you ever eaten bugs? It is quite likely that you have!
Some yogurts, juices, and ice creams that include the words
“cochineal extract” or “carmine” use dried bugs to enhance
pink or reddish colors in foods. Cochineal bugs are used today to color
many things including food, beverages, and cosmetics. Native and
✓
✓
✓
Safety glasses required
Protective clothing and gloves suggested
Caution: hot liquids
✓ Do not eat or drink any of the materials used in this activity
Indigenous people, including Incas and Aztecs in Central and South
America, used cochineal bugs to color fabrics and other materials. They
✓ Thoroughly wash hands after this activity
even found a way to get other colors, besides pink or red, from these Disposal: Neutralize all solutions (See the How Does It Work? section
same bugs. Try this activity to discover how they did it! on page 9) before pouring down the drain. Wash reusable items with
soap and water. Disposable items, such as zip-closing plastic bags,
Materials may be disposed of safely with the household trash or recycling.
Note: Cover your workspace and protect your clothing to avoid
• dried cochineal bugs (available for purchase online or at craft stores)
unwanted stains from the insect dye.
• snack-size zip-closing plastic bag
• storage-grade quart-size (about 1 liter) zip-closing plastic bag
• rolling pin (or sealed metal food can) Dye your cotton
• several small plastic cups or bowls 1. Dip a small cotton sample into the cup labeled “Cochineal Dye.”
• piece of white, 100% cotton fabric (about 6” x 6”, or 15 cm x 15 cm) – 2. Dip another small cotton sample into the cup labeled
like part of an old T-shirt, pillowcase, or cotton squares “Vinegar and Cochineal Dye.”
• 2 measuring spoons (1 tablespoon, or about 15 mL, and 3. Dip another small cotton sample into the cup
½ teaspoon, or about 7.5 mL) labeled “Baking Soda and Cochineal Dye.”
• measuring cup (1 cup, or 250 mL) 4. Experiment with using droppers or spoons to
• plastic pipet or eye dropper apply the liquid in each of the cups to cotton cloth
• baking soda in new patterns. Label the droppers or spoons
• vinegar used in each of the liquids.
• warm tap water 5. Set aside and allow to dry.
• marker for labelling 6. Enjoy and appreciate your dyed sample!
• coffee filters (optional)

Procedure What did you observe?

What did you notice when the vinegar mixed with the cochineal dye
Extract the cochineal dye
solution? What do you think other acids (like lemon juice or carbonated
1. Place 1 tsp. of dried cochineal bugs in the snack-size zip-closing plastic
soft drink) might do if added to a fresh solution of cochineal dye? What
bag. Remove as much air as possible and securely seal the bag.
happened when you added the baking soda to cochineal dye solution?
2. Using a rolling pin or thermos, roll over the bugs in the bag to crush
them into a powder.
3. Place smashed cochineal bug powder into the quart-size zip-closing
bag. Add 1 cup of warm tap water to the bag.
How does it work?
4. Shake vigorously for several minutes, then allow to settle. The extracted dye from the female cochineal bugs is used to color
5. Open the zip-closing bag and carefully pour the liquid into an empty foods, makeup, and clothing. Cochineal dye is great because it can
cup, leaving the crushed bug body parts in the bag. Chemists call this be used to get various colors when mixed with different solutions.
type of process decanting. Vinegar is an acid, and adding it changes the cochineal dye to an
6. The red-colored liquid in the receiving cup is the cochineal dye that orange color. The baking soda is a base, and turns the cochineal dye
will be used to make additional solutions. Label this “Cochineal Dye purple. The cochineal dye is an example of an indicator. Chemists
Solution” and set aside. use the color changes of indicators to categorize substances as
acids or bases.
Optional: Set aside the towel/filter with the big bug parts; you can allow How do you know if cochineal dye is in your foods, make-up,
them to dry, smash some more and make more dye as above. or clothing? Check the ingredient label for the different names
cochineal dye goes by: cochineal, carmine, carminic acid, Natural
Change the color of the dye solutions by adding acids and bases Red 4, or E120.
1. Make a basic solution with baking soda by dissolving ½ tbsp. baking
soda in 1 cup of water (label “Baking Soda”).
2. Set up three small cups or bowls as “dye pots.” Mark cups as What else can you do?
“Cochineal Dye”, “Vinegar and Cochineal Dye,” and “Baking Soda and Use your colorful cochineal dye for other projects, like tie-dye or the
Cochineal Dye.” Add 1 tbsp. of cochineal dye solution to each activity on page 9 in this edition of Celebrating Chemistry.
3. Add ½ tsp. vinegar (an acid) to cup “Vinegar and Cochineal Dye.” What
color results? Veronica I. Jaramillo, Ph.D. is a chemistry professor at Pasadena City
4. Add ½ tsp. baking soda solution (made in step #1) to cup “Baking Soda College in Pasadena, CA.
and Cochineal Dye.” What color results? Kit Cheung is an undergraduate student at Pasadena City College.

5
6
7
Ill Will from
Insects?
By Regina Malczewski

O uch! You were bitten by a mosquito, and now you have

an itchy red bump on your skin! Are insects out to get
us? Why do those bites and stings itch and hurt so
much? While some insects (like mosquitos) need to suck blood
to survive, most other insects bite only to protect themselves or
bubonic plague. That disease killed millions in Europe in the
1300s and 1600s, and still infects 5,000 people around the
their territories. They pierce our skin using their mouth parts or world each year. Fly poop can contain the organisms that cause
stingers, and inject venoms that contain a complex mixture of sleeping sickness, cholera, and typhoid fever.
chemicals — including formic acid, hormones, and enzymes that But, for all their stinging, biting, and diseases, it is possible
affect our bodies. The venom of the fire ant alone contains 46 to protect ourselves from insects. Keep your house clean. Wear
different proteins! long pants and long-sleeved shirts when you are in forested or
Stinging or biting bugs include lice, ticks, bedbugs, and many wilderness areas. Avoid getting too close to bee nests or hives,
winged insects. Most reactions are relatively harmless, and keep foods and drinks covered, wear neutral color clothing, and
depend on the bug and the victim. Our immune systems react avoid sweet-smelling lotions and perfumes.
with redness, swelling (including blisters), itching, and burning. If you want to have insect-free adventures outdoors, use
In cases of severe allergies, people can experience vomiting, natural bug sprays (or candles, necklaces, or wipes) that
breathing issues, muscle spasms, fever, and rapid heartbeat. contain materials like OLE (oil of lemon eucalyptus), citronella,
These are symptoms of anaphylactic shock and require medical peppermint, or clove oil. When you come back inside after
attention. The use of an EpiPen, a medical device that contains spending time outdoors, have your parent or guardian help check
the hormone norepinephrine, helps the user’s body fight these your body for ticks. If you have been bitten or stung, remove any
symptoms. People who are very young or are old are the most stinger, wash the area, and apply an ice pack; anti-itch creams can
susceptible to harm from bug bites, and summer is the season be used as needed.
when most bites occur. We need to learn to coexist with insects, since they are so
Dangerous bites don’t always inject chemicals. Sometimes important for ecological balance and human well-being. But we
they deliver microbes into our blood. Certain mosquitoes in also need to manage our interactions with them in responsible
warm climates carry a parasite that causes malaria, a flu-like and earth-friendly ways, and help keep ourselves safe too!
disease that affects 290 million people every year, and kills more
than 400,000. Deer ticks harbor the bacterium responsible for Regina Malczewski, Ph.D. is a retired biochemist who worked
Lyme disease, and fleas on rats carry a microbe that causes at Dow Corning Corporation in Midland, MI.

8
Taking the Sting Out of Bites
By Veronica I. Jaramillo, Kit Cheung,
Safety Suggestions
and Edith Kippenhan
✓ Safety goggles required
✓ Protective clothing and gloves suggested
Introduction ✓ Caution: hot liquids

B ites or stings from certain bugs, such as red fire ants or bees, ✓ Do not eat or drink any of the materials used in this activity
can be extra irritating. The reason is that in addition to containing ✓ Thoroughly wash hands after this activity
venoms, they are also acidic. Acids can break down human tissue. ✓ Gloves
The acid from fire ants (known as formic acid) reacts with your skin and Disposal: Neutralize all solutions before pouring down the drain. Wash
damages it. Other compounds in their venom react with your skin and reusable items with soap and water. Disposable items, such as zip-closing
nerves. No wonder these bites and stings hurt so much! plastic bags, may be disposed of safely with the household trash or recycling.
Some common remedies to treat bites include soap, baking soda, Note: Cover your workspace and protect your clothing to avoid unwanted
rubbing alcohol, and calamine lotion. Do any of these remedies counteract stains from the insect dye.
the acid in the bite? Let’s investigate!

Materials What did you observe?

• cochineal or red cabbage indicator (explained below) Observation Table
• 4 clear plastic cups — 2 oz. (about 60 mL) or
smaller works well Color before Color after Was there a
• measuring spoons (1 tablespoon, or about Remedy to be addition of addition of color change?
15 mL, and ¼ teaspoon, or about 1.25 mL) Cup Tested remedy remedy (Yes or No)
• vinegar #1 baking soda
• baking soda
• rubbing alcohol (approx. 70%) #2 rubbing alcohol
• liquid hand soap
#3 hand soap
• calamine lotion
• filtered water or distilled water #4 calamine lotion
• snack size zip-closing plastic bag
• measuring cup
• plastic pipet or eye dropper
• marker for labelling How does it work?
Acids, bases, and neutral substances can all be compared on a
Procedure spectrum called the pH scale. “Neutral” is where most of our body
To track what is happening with the acid, we will use an indicator that is fluids are: neither acid nor base, but in the middle of the scale. Acids
made from natural, cochineal dye (which has been extracted from the and bases are chemical opposites. If you add a base to an acid, it
body of a female cochineal insect). Cochineal dye will change colors if the will help neutralize it. If you add an acid to a base, the same thing
solution is acidic, basic, or neutral. happens. “Neutralization” moves acidic or basic materials toward the
You will need an indicator to do this experiment. You can make your middle of the scale.
own using the cochineal insects from the activity on page 5 in this edition Cochineal dye is orange when it’s in an acidic environment, red
of Celebrating Chemistry. If you don’t have access to cochineal insects, when neutral, and purple when it’s in base. If you add too much
you can make another kind of indicator by soaking a few chopped or torn neutralizing agent when starting with an acid, you can end up basic,
leaves of red cabbage in ¾-cup (about 200 mL) of warm tap water for five which is another non-ideal situation for living things. Baking soda is
minutes, then removing the solids. a base, so adding the amount we did neutralizes the vinegar, but goes
Since we do not want to use the real acid from bug bites, we will beyond where we want to be. Neither the alcohol nor the soap did
substitute vinegar. Vinegar is a common acid you can find in your kitchen. much to neutralize the acid, but the calamine lotion does.
When you spill some vinegar on your skin, it normally does not sting. That So, let’s review! The best of our treatments for counteracting the
is because the amount of acid in vinegar is fairly small, only 3-5%, but it is acid in a bite would be baking soda and calamine lotion. Alcohol and
a good model for the acid from an insect bite. soap are commonly recommended to help with bites because they
serve a very important role — preventing infection! As a bonus, alcohol
1. Label 4 clear plastic cups: “baking soda,” “rubbing alcohol,” “liquid hand cools the skin as it evaporates, easing the annoying itchy feeling.
soap,” and “calamine lotion.”
2. Add 1 tbsp. of vinegar to each of the four cups.
3. Use a pipet or dropper to add 10 drops of your indicator solution
(juice from cochineal bugs) to each of the four labeled plastic cups.
Swirl gently. Record observations in table below.
4. Add ¼ tsp. of baking soda to the appropriate cup and swirl.
Record your observations in the table.
5. Add ¼ tsp. of rubbing alcohol to the appropriate cup and swirl.
Record your observations.
Veronica I. Jaramillo, Ph.D. is a chemistry professor at Pasadena City
6. Add two pumps of the liquid hand soap to the appropriate cup and swirl.
College, in Pasadena, CA.
Record your observations.
7. Add ¼ tsp. of calamine lotion to the appropriate cup and swirl. Record Kit Cheung is an undergraduate student at Pasadena City College.
your observations in the table. Edith Kippenhan is a senior lecturer at the University of Toledo in Toledo, OH.
9
The Adventures of
Meg A. Mole,
Future Chemist
Riccardo Papa
Professor and Lab Director of the of the
Sequencing and Genotyping Facility

In honor of this year’s Chemists Celebrate Earth Week

theme, “The Buzz About Bugs: Insect Chemistry,” I
traveled all the way to the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras,
a scientist is that you can “always do new things and make new
discoveries.” Most of all, he enjoys “the interaction with young
students.”
to meet with Dr. Riccardo Papa, Professor and Lab Director of the As I was leaving to head back home, I asked Dr. Papa if he had
Sequencing and Genotyping Facility. any advice for kids. He replied, “Understand the beauty and delicate
Dr. Papa studies Heliconius butterflies, also known as longwings. balance of nature, and learn to respect and protect the diversity of
His lab is “dedicated to the study of genetics and genomics” using life forms.” Well said!
these butterflies. More specifically, he and his team are exploring the
“source of variation in natural selection and adaptation … and why
and how the patterns and colors on a butterfly’s wing can change
over generations.” Word Search
So where is this work done? Dr. Papa explained that most of their Try to find the words listed below – they can be horizontal,
studies are conducted “at the Department of Biology at the UPR-Rio vertical or diagonal, and read forward or backward!
Piedras, the Botanical Garden, and the Molecular Research Science
building.” The Botanical Garden was a really neat place to visit. I
learned a lot about butterflies and saw some beautiful insects! There
are many botanical gardens all over the world, where many children
can experience some aspect of Dr. Papa’s work.
Growing up, Dr. Papa was interested in science. He spent a lot of
time “collecting insects and looking at their behaviors and shapes.”
It was his “love for nature and biodiversity” that made him want to
pursue a science career. He shared that the best thing about being

Fun Facts
• F
 avorite pastime/hobby: Surfing, paddle boarding, sailing,
and painting
• Favorite food: Pasta (I am Italian)
• V
 ery interesting project you were a part of: Discovery of CHEMISTRY INSECT POLLEN
the molecules that create colors on butterfly wings ENTOMOLOGIST MOLECULE POLLINATION
ENTOMOPHAGY PHOTOSYNTHESIS POLLINATOR
• A
 bout your family: Very international: Wife from California,
son and dog from Puerto Rico, and me from Italy. We speak For answers to the word search, please visit
three languages in the house: English, Spanish, and Italian. www.acs.org/celebratingchemistry.

10
 Safety Suggestions

Amazing Aromas ✓
✓
Safety goggles required
Do not eat or drink any of the materials
used in the science part of this activity
By Susan Hershberger
✓ Thoroughly wash hands after this activity

Introduction
I nsects help plants get pollinated, so that they can make seeds. Insects do not really know they are doing this valuable job for plants, because their focus is on
looking for food, such as nectar from flowers. How do plants attract the insects and get their help? It is mostly from the scent, color, and shape of their flowers.
In this activity, you will assemble some common aromas from natural fruits and flowers and from products that use scents (which may be artificial) as part of
their ingredients. Using just your sense of smell, can you identify the source, and match the real aroma to the aroma in specific products? It’s not easy!

Materials Procedure
• 3 scented items such as candles, Prepare your samples Test the real aroma and the aroma in products
soaps, or lotions. You could also use 1. Put a small amount of each scented product in three of the 1. For the fairest test, wear a blindfold.
candies, beverages, or dessert mixes small cups or containers. Put a small amount of each natural 2. Ask your assistant to gently wave, under
that contain common fruit flavors. product in each of the other three small cups. Make sure the your nose, the containers with the samples.
• 3 corresponding real, natural items. contents are hard to see, but keep the containers open to 3. Your first job to guess which aroma you are
For example, if you find a vanilla allow the odor to be detected. detecting. Ask your assistant to write down
candle, use natural vanilla extract. If 2. Check if you can detect the aroma by gently waving or words you used to describe each aroma.
you find rose-scented shampoo, find fanning the cup under your nose. Chemists call this 4. Second, try to guess whether you are
a real rose from a rose plant. If you technique wafting. This is a safer way to sample the aroma detecting the natural aroma, or if the aroma
find an orange candy or gelatin mix, than putting your nose in a jar and taking a big sniff. is in a product.
find a small piece of real orange. If 3. If you cannot detect any aroma, possibly because a candy 5. Since you are blindfolded, your assistant
you find strawberry lotion, get a real has a hard shell, you can cut the sample into small pieces can write your response down in the data
strawberry. and even add a little warm water to the cut pieces. The warm table.
• 6 small jars, containers, or cups that water helps the aroma molecules turn into a gas or vapor so 6. Repeat the same process with the other
are hard to see though. Paper can be your nose can detect the aroma. samples, going in any order.
taped on the outside. 4. Once you have detected the odor of each of the of three 7. Can you tell which samples have the same
• Assistant to help you scented products and the corresponding natural items in aroma? Tell your assistant which are
• Scarf or bandana to use as a blindfold cups, you are ready to test both the products and your sense pairs. It is OK to ask to go back to smell a
• Small amount of warm tap water of smell. previous sample.
(optional)

What did you observe?

Natural or product Describe the aroma.
Sample Aroma detected? sample? Which sample is this sample paired with?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

How does it work?

The aromas of flowers and fruits are chemical compounds made of different combinations of several elements — mainly carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.
The aroma of each substance is a direct result of the way the atoms are arranged and grouped together. Different arrangements of these same elements
make up the different aromas. These compounds become gases easily, which allows them to be detected by our sense of smell. Bees and other pollinators
detect these aromas, too!
It is very important for insects to be able to identify the correct scents and shapes so that they can navigate to the correct flowers. Otherwise, they will
not be successful in pollinating the flowers. Luckily, insects have very accurate sensory organs and are able to find the right flowers.
You were faced with the challenge of identifying natural odors, but also trying to separate them from their artificial versions. Chemists work very hard to
make artificial flavors and odors as close to the natural ones as possible. For example, natural vanilla flavor is expensive, so scientists try to copy the aroma
or flavor with imitations for specific products such as candles, soaps, and even foods like vanilla ice cream. The same is true of many other scents and
flavors. Manufacturers will often use an artificial version of a taste or odor because they are cheaper and easier to control and use.
Hopefully you now have a better idea what it is like to be a bee trying to find the perfect flower to pollinate. Maybe you’ll also have a better appreciation
how complex and wonderful our natural world is!

Susan Hershberger, Ph.D. is Director of the Center for Chemistry Education at Miami University in Oxford, OH.

11
 About Celebrating Chemistry
Words to Know Insect – an animal that has six legs; Celebrating Chemistry is a publication of the ACS
Atom – the smallest unit of a a body made up of a thorax, head, Office of Science Outreach in conjunction with
chemical element that has the and abdomen; and often one or two the Committee on Community Activities (CCA). The Office of Science
characteristics of the element. pairs of wings.
Outreach is part of the ACS Division of Education. The Chemists Celebrate
Chemical bond – forces of Molecule – the smallest unit of a Earth Week (CCEW) edition of Celebrating Chemistry is published
attraction between atoms or chemical compound. They are made annually and is available free of charge online or in print through your
molecules that create compounds. from two or more atoms. local CCEW Coordinator. Visit www.acs.org/ccew to learn more.
Chemical reaction – the process Photosynthesis – the chemical
of rearranging atoms between process plants and other bacteria
substances to make different use to turn carbon dioxide, light, and About the American Chemical Society
substances. water into energy in the form sugar, The American Chemical Society (ACS)
and release oxygen into the air. is one of the world’s largest scientific
Chemistry – the study of matter,
its properties, and its changes. Pollen – a dusty powder produced organizations. ACS members are
by plants when they reproduce. chemists, chemical engineers, and other professionals who work
Element – a pure substance, such
Pollination – the process of in chemistry or chemistry-related jobs. The ACS has over 152,000
as copper or oxygen, made from a
transferring pollen from the male members in more than 130 countries around the world. Members of the
single type of atom. Elements are the
parts of a plant to its female parts, ACS share ideas with each other and learn about important discoveries
basic building blocks of all matter.
allowing the plant to reproduce. in chemistry during scientific meetings held several times a year,
Entomologist – a scientist who Pollination happens by wind, water, through the ACS website, and through the many peer-reviewed scientific
studies insects. journals the ACS publishes. ACS members carry out many programs
or pollinators.
Entomophagy – the practice of Pollinator – an organism that picks that help the public learn about chemistry. One of these programs is
eating insects. Chemists Celebrate Earth Week, held annually during the week of Earth
up pollen from one flower and carries
Indicator – a substance that it to another. Insects, birds, bats, and Day on April 22. ACS members celebrate by holding events in schools,
changes color depending on whether bees are common examples. shopping malls, science museums, libraries, and even virtually online!
it is in an acid, a base, or a neutral Activities at these events include carrying out chemistry investigations
solution. and participating in contests and games. If you’d like more information
about these programs, please contact us at outreach@acs.org.

PRODUCTION TEAM ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Allison Tau, Editor Rhonda Saunders, Designer The articles and activities used in this publication were written by theme team members of the
Eric Stewart, Copyeditor Jim Starr, Illustrator ACS Committee on Community Activities (CCA) under the leadership of Holly Davis.
Michael Tinnesand, Copyeditor Andrés Vergara, Translator Meg A. Mole’s interview was written by Kara KasaKaitas.
The activities described in this publication are intended for children under the direct
TECHNICAL AND SAFETY REVIEW TEAM
supervision of adults. The American Chemical Society cannot be responsible for any accidents
Lynn Hogue, Consultant or injuries that may result from conducting the activities without proper supervision, from not
Bettyann Howson, Safety Reviewer specifically following directions, or from ignoring the cautions contained in the text.
Ashley Neybert, Accessibility Reviewer
Sara Delgado-Rivera, Translation Reviewer REFERENCES
https://www.si.edu/spotlight/buginfo/bugnos
CCEW 2022 THEME TEAM https://www.royensoc.co.uk/facts-and-figures
https://www.orkin.com/termites/facts/statistics
Rick Rogers, CCEW Chair Holly Davis https://www.pollinator.org/pollinators
Regina Malczewski, 2022 Co-Chair Jackie Trischman Ollerton J, Winfree R, and Tarrant S (2011) How many flowering plants are pollinated by animals?
Veronica Jaramillo, 2022 Co-Chair Ressano Machado Oikos 120:321-326.
Brittany Rauzan Sara Delgado https://cisr.ucr.edu/entomophagy-eating-insects
http://cisr.ucr.acsitefactory.com/sites/g/files/rcwecm2631/files/2020-01/fao-entomophagy-report.pdf
David Katz Shawn Dougherty https://www.si.edu/spotlight/buginfo/insects-food
Edith Kippenhan Susan Hershberger https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/04/health/insect-rodent-filth-in-food-wellness
Greglynn Gibbs Tracy Hamilton https://www.wired.com/2015/09/cochineal-bug-feature/
https://www.businessinsider.com/how-cochineal-insects-color-your-food-and-drinks-2012-3
https://recipes.howstuffworks.com/food-science/carmine.htm
DIVISION OF EDUCATION http://www.cochinealdye.com/index.html
LaTrease Garrison, Executive Vice President https://www.instructables.com/Make-PaintDye-From-Natural-Materials-Like-Cochinea/
https://www.healthline.com/health/bug-bites
Lily L. Raines, Manager, Science Outreach https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/312484
Allison Tau, Program Specialist, Science Outreach https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/infected-insect-bite

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Want to learn more about Avi and the other moles? Check out www.acs.org/moles.