<\/p>\n
Our understanding of the molecular dynamics of growing crystals is quite primitive, and it is generally not possible to explain why even simple crystals develop their characteristic shapes. A case in point is the snow crystal, which grows into a puzzling variety of unusual morphologies under different conditions. Although snow crystals are the product of a well-understood phase transition, some basic aspects of their growth have remained unexplained for over 75 years.<\/p>\n
All are welcome to join HVCC Chemistry Club members on Monday, Feb. 27, at 2 p.m. in SCI 385 as we watch “The Secret Lives of Snowflakes,” an American Chemical Society (ACS) webinar. It features Kenneth Libbrecht, professor of Physics at Caltech, who examines how the ice surface structure changes with temperature, how this affects ice crystal growth dynamics, and the resulting remarkable temperature dependence observed in snow crystal formation.<\/p>\n
All HVCC students (and faculty) are encouraged to stay up to date with all HVCC Chemistry Club information by enrolling in our Blackboard organization:<\/p>\n
1.\u00a0 Log into Blackboard.
\n2.\u00a0 Click on the Community section (one of the options across the top).
\n3.\u00a0 Click \u201cBrowse Organization Catalog.\u201d
\n4.\u00a0 Type \u201cChemistry Club\u201d (without quotes) into the search area and click Go.
\n5.\u00a0 Hover just to the right of Chemistry Club in the Organization ID list to see a down arrow. Click on that down arrow and choose Enroll.
\n6.\u00a0 Submit your enrollment.
\n7.\u00a0 Acknowledge the \u201cyou are enrolled\u201d message by clicking OK (at the bottom). This should take you to the Blackboard site for the HVCC Chemistry Club.<\/p>\n