Challenged to create a product using skills they learned in chemistry class, eighth-graders at Bettendorf Middle School came up with items from scented nail polish and deodorant to sports drinks and edible slime.

The products were on display Friday during the school's first Chemistry Expo.

The event was part of a project-based learning assignment, said teacher Tanya Gilmore. The students also were responsible for creating posters and a website to market their product.

"It's sort of a way for them to connect the concepts they've learned throughout the year with something real, making chemistry more real to them," Gilmore said. "I think they surprised themselves with how much they actually know."

The students were challenged to create a product that did not just add something to an existing product, but to use their chemistry skills to create something new.

Kassidie Harmon said her group considered making root beer but decided that was too easy. Instead, they chose to make root-beer-flavored gum.

Her group had to order gum base online, but was able to find root beer extract at a local grocery store. They then experimented with different combinations of gum base, root beer extract, corn syrup and sugar.

"It took us five tries," she said. "We had to add a lot of sugar."

After distributing samples to classmates and visitors at the Chemistry Expo, Kassidie said most people either seemed to love the gum or hate it.

"There was no in-between," she said.

Ian Beck's group decided to make deodorant, but wasn't thrilled with the result.

The group used a mixture of corn starch, baking soda and perfumes, which team member Helena Sparbel said were chosen because they smelled like "old lady."

The aroma of the resulting product was a little too strong.

"Enough to knock people out," Ian said.

The team added water to dilute the scent, leaving the final product a little gooey.

"Making it into a stick was not the best idea," Ian said.

The young chemists agreed the project was a more enjoyable way to learn than the usual chemistry lab assignment.

"This was actually a lot of fun," Kassidie said.

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Students test products made in chemistry project