Science Saturday: Slime
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2titu2R6fA0&w=560&h=315]
SIMPLE SLIME: https://www.homesciencetools.com/learning-center/how-to-make-slime
WHAT YOU NEED:
- School glue
- Borax (Sodium tetraborate)
- Food coloring (optional)
- Water
- Two bowls
WHAT YOU DO:
- In one bowl mix 1 oz. glue (about ¼ of the glue bottle) and ¼ cup water. If you want colored slime, add food coloring to the glue and water mixture. Lift some of the solution out of the container with the stir stick and note what happens.
- Add ¼ cup of Sodium Tetraborate (Borax) Solution to the glue and water mixture and stir slowly.
- The slime will begin to form immediately. Lift some of the solution with the stir stick and observe how the consistency has changed from Step 1.
- Stir as much as you can, then dig in and knead it with your hands until it gets less sticky. This is a messy experience but is necessary because itallows the two compounds to bond completely. Don't worry about anyleftover water in the bowl; just pour it out.
- When not in use, store the slime in a plastic bag in the fridge to keep itfrom growing mold.
WHAT HAPPENED:
The glue has an ingredient called polyvinyl acetate, which is a liquid polymer. The borax links the polyvinyl acetate molecules to each other, creating one large, flexible polymer. This kind of slime will get stiffer and more like putty the more you play with it. Experiment with different glues to see if they create slime (e.g., carpenter glue, tacky glue, etc.).