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Henry's superpowers manifested at the age of eleven. Team Remarkablz recruited him and provided special training. He quickly became one of the bravest, if somewhat reckless members of the team.

On Henry's chest is the molecular structure of hydrogen peroxide.

The background of this card is a drawing of Henry's Lab in Chicago.

In this fact-file find out why we turned Henry into a Superhero

Henry received his doctoral degree from the University of Chicago.

Henry created highly explosive materials and developed new methods of producing a dangerous compound from hydrogen peroxide.

In 1944, Henry chose Professor Morris Kharasch as his research advisor.

Laser cooling techniques can cool down atomic and molecular samples to near absolute zero. This would stop any flame!

Full name: Henry Ransom Cecil McBay
Born: 1914
Died: 1995
Occupation: Volcanologist

Henry was born in 1914 in Texas, USA. Henry went on to study organic chemistry and in earned his Phd from Chicago University.

Henry's work with Hydrogen peroxide allowed chemists around the world to create inexpensive peroxide compounds which are extremely useful as building blocks in many chemical reactions. As a result of his research, Henry received the Elizabeth Norton prize for excellence in chemical research in 1944 and 1945. One of Henry's main goals was to pass along his love for chemistry to his students and he was a teacher for over 40 years.

People who work in chemistry are called chemists. Chemists study the substances that make up matter. They also study the changes that take place when substances are combined. These changes are called chemical reactions.

Video credit: Binogi

Check out this video about a day in the work life of a chemist. Follow Hilary Corkran's and find out where science and chemistry can take you.

Video credit: careersnz

Hydrogen peroxide is a compound with an oxygen–oxygen single bond. It is used as an oxidizer and antiseptic. Concentrated hydrogen peroxide, or "high-test peroxide", is a reactive oxygen species and has been used as a propellant in rocketry.

Empty, clean plastic bottle

Washing up Liquid

STEP 1: Put on your safety glasses and place your plastic bottle on the tray.

STEP 2: Measure 1/2 cup of hydrogen peroxide, and carefully pour it into the bottle.

STEP 3: Add a big squirt of dish soap into the bottle, and swirl gently to mix.

STEP 4: Add a few drops of food colouring directly into the hydrogen peroxide, and swirl the bottle gently to mix.

STEP 5: In a measuring cup mix one tablespoon of yeast and three tablespoons of warm water. Stir.

3% hydrogen peroxide

Dry yeast (15ml – one packet)

3+ Tablespoons (15 ml) warm water

Food colouring (optional)

Large tub or tray to catch the foam

Safety glasses

STEP 6: Pour the yeast mixture into the bottle then quickly step back. Watch your reaction! What happens? How long does the reaction last?

Explained: When the hydrogen peroxide comes into contact with the yeast it starts breaking down into water and oxygen. Oxygen is a gas and therefore wants to escape the liquid. The dish soap traps these gas bubbles, forming a foam. The reaction continues as long as there is some hydrogen peroxide and yeast left.
Did you notice that the bottle got warm? This is because the experiment created a reaction called an Exothermic Reaction. This means that the experiment not only created foam, it created heat!

Henry features in our card game Top Quarkz

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