I feel cheated...

For those of you following along with yesterday's drama this should bring a sense of closure.  Mind you this is not a GREAT and abiding sense of closure...  more of a watered down sense of closure maybe?  Just be glad you haven't waited 22 years for it... 

I went a little Psycho yesterday - might have mentioned that in comments - and actually got out the old yearbook so that I could find Mr. E...  he happens to be on facebook.  This is good because I'm not sure my detective skills work much past the facebook level.

I sent him a message with the link to yesterday's post (and seriously - if you're reading THIS, but didn't read THAT - stop right now... go read it... I'll wait...

okay, now that we're all up to speed.  I just HAD to know - and judging from yesterday's curious comments I was not alone. 

The response?

It is good to hear from you. Yes, I was that chemistry teacher 22 years ago and I remember that day well. In addition to that day being your first day at a new school, it was also my very first day as a high school science teacher. The demonstration had a couple of purposes. First, it was to get students like you excited about learning about chemistry. It was also to model how to take good observations and ask good questions. Now for the answer…
The unknown liquid was water! When we tested to see if the unknown liquid was flammable, I had a small amount of Calcium Carbide next to the lit candle. When water comes in contact with the Calcium Carbide, acetylene gas is produced. With acetylene being very flammable, the result is an impressive ball of fire.

It is always nice to hear from former students. It is hard to believe how quickly 22 years pass. I continued to teach chemistry and physics and now I work as the district science coordinator. Instead of teaching kids, I work with teachers and administrators.

Thanks for tracking me down. I enjoyed reading your description of that day on your blog.
Take care,  (Mr E)

Who, besides me, feels just a little gipped?  Water???  Okay, okay... I'm okay with the answer... I just maybe feel a little foolish for not having asked the right questions 22 years ago :)  Apparently the right question was "Is there anything ELSE present to cause this reaction?" or "Man, are you trying to pull something over on us poor impressionable innocent children?"  (hmmm, that might not have applied to many of us in the class...)

It's all good though...   at least none of us will be losing sleep over it tonight.  (now if I could just stop having that geometry dream where Mr. B wants me to explain the pythagorean theorem I'd be good)