Active Chemistry Movie Special Effects
Activity 7 Polymers
7HAT $O 9OU 3EE
GOALS What Do You Think?
In this activity you will: In ancient times, humans made most of the objects they needed for
• Make a polymer-based material daily life from natural substances. Relatively little processing was done
that has properties different between harvesting and use. For much of history, people have used
from other states of matter metals, cotton, wood, and other natural materials for building, clothing,
that you have studied. and tools. In the 1900s things changed dramatically as scientists were
• Observe the material’s able to create new materials.
properties and compare them
to those of solids and liquids. • What is a polymer?
• Describe the process of cross- • How are polymers made?
linking in polymeric materials.
• Discuss and invent new
Record your ideas about these questions in your Active Chemistry log.
commercial uses for water- Be prepared to discuss your responses with your small group and the class.
soluble polymers.
• Compare the viscosities of two Investigate
non-Newtonian fluids.
1. Measure 50 mL of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) solution into a 250-mL
beaker. Observe closely the properties of the PVA solution. Refer to
the different types of properties you investigated in previous activities
to make your observations.
a) Record your observations in your Active Chemistry log.
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Activity 7 Polymers
2. Measure 10 mL of sodium and solids have their own shape.
tetraborate (borax) solution into Slime blurred the line between the
another beaker. Observe the definitions. Liquids spread out when Safety goggles
and a lab apron
properties of borax. force is applied, but solids break. must be worn
Liquids splatter when dropped, at all times in a
a) Record your observations in your chemistry lab.
while solids may bounce.
Active Chemistry log.
Wash your
a) In what ways does your slime
3. Add one drop of food coloring to hands and arms
behave like a liquid? thoroughly after
the sodium tetraborate solution. the activity.
b) In what ways does it behave like
4. Add the sodium tetraborate solution Do not inhale
a solid?
to the PVA solution while stirring or ingest borax!
with a wooden stick. Keep stirring 7. The PVA molecules are relatively
until the mixture thickens. long, slender molecules. The sodium
tetraborate molecules are shorter
When the mixture has thickened,
and can form bonds on both ends.
remove the stick. Place a few paper
towels on your desktop and use a) Draw a sketch to represent how
your hands to remove the thickened the substances act in this reaction.
mixture. Use the model in the diagram to
draw PVA molecules alone that
Mold and stretch the new material
can account for it being a liquid.
while you observe its characteristics.
The molecules in a liquid slide
a) Record your observations in past one another easily.
your log.
b) Draw sodium tetraborate
5. Test your new “slime” and see if it molecules alone that can account
behaves more like a solid or more for it being a solid. In a solid the
like a liquid. Try holding the slime bonds prevent molecules from
in your fingers and dangling it moving too far from their original
downward. Wait for a few minutes positions.
to see what happens.
c) Finally, draw the reaction of
Place your slime back in the beaker sodium tetraborate cross-linking
and see what happens as it sits for a the PVA molecules that can
few minutes. account for it being somewhat
Try pulling the slime out slowly solid and somewhat liquid.
and see what happens. Now try the Remember your drawing is just a
same thing but pull quickly. representation of the molecules.
Roll the slime into a ball and try
bouncing it gently on the tabletop.
a) Record all your observations in
your log.
6. It was easy to label the PVA solution PVA
as a solid or a liquid. Similarly, it
was easy to label borax. Liquids
have very different characteristics
from solids. Liquids flow while
solids have a rigid shape. Liquids sodium tetraborate
assume the shape of their container
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Active Chemistry Movie Special Effects
Chem Words
polymer: a substance
POLYMERS
that is a macromolecule
consisting of many
In this activity you made “slime.” This substance is a polymer that has
similar small molecules unique characteristics. It is classified as a non-Newtonian liquid. Liquids
(monomers) linked resist flow. This phenomenon is known as viscosity. Newton devised
together in long chains.
viscosity: a property
a simple model for fluid flow. You will learn more about this model in
related to the resistance later chemistry and physics courses. Liquids like water and gasoline
of a fluid to flow. behave according to Newton’s model. They are called Newtonian fluids.
polymerization: a
chemical reaction that
Ketchup, blood, yogurt, gravy, pie fillings, mud, and slime do not follow
converts small molecules the model. They are classified as non-Newtonian liquids. Slime has some
(monomers) into large characteristics of liquids such as being fluid and taking the shape of its
molecules (polymers).
container. On the other hand it bounces and breaks when pulled quickly,
as solids do. The unique characteristics of slime are due to the two
substances that make it up. The borax solution forms cross-links among
the polyvinyl alcohol molecules. These cross-links make the resulting
polymer slower to flow and change shape. The formation of very large
molecules from many smaller molecular units is called polymerization.
Polymers are materials that are made up of many similar small molecules,
called monomers, linked together in long chains. These materials have
always existed in nature, but they have only been produced by industrial
processes in the 20th century.
Proteins are natural polymers. They are the basic structural unit of plants
and animals. There are more than ten thousand different proteins found
in nature, yet they are all made up of combinations of about 20 different
amino acids. Starch and cellulose are examples of carbohydrates that are
polymers. The human digestive system is able to break apart the bonds
that form starch molecules, releasing glucose, which the body uses as a
source of energy. Humans cannot digest cellulose.
Polyethylene (polyethene) is a polymer
made up of ethylene molecules linked
together. It is one of many chemicals
Checking Up
manufactured from crude oil. It is
1. Describe polymers and used to make plastic milk bottles as
polymerization in your
own words.
well as a variety of other objects.
2. Name two natural-
Other examples of polymers include
occurring polymers. polyesters, nylon, polyvinyl chloride,
3. Give examples of polystyrene, natural rubber, and
five polymers that polyethylene terephthalate (PET),
are manufactured
using technological
which is a recyclable thermoplastic.
processes.
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Activity 7 Polymers
What Do You Think Now?
At the beginning of the activity you were asked:
• What is a polymer?
• How are polymers made?
Now that you know what a polymer is, how would you update your earlier
response? Create an animation that shows the process of polymerization.
What does it mean?
Chemistry explains a macroscopic phenomenon (what you observe)
with a description of what happens at the nanoscopic level (atoms
and molecules) using symbolic structures as a way to communicate.
Complete the chart below in your Active Chemistry log.
MACRO NANO SYMBOLIC
Describe your observations In words, describe what is Draw a picture that shows the
when you mixed polyvinyl happening to the PVA and the binding of PVA and borax.
alcohol and borax. borax molecules.
How do you know?
Look back at your observations of the PVA and borax before they were
mixed. What changes happened to the liquids after they were mixed?
Why do you believe?
Manufacturers describe polymers by their physical macroscopic
properties. Chemists describe polymers by their chemical structure.
As a student chemist, can you give one reason why each description is
important?
Why should you care?
You will be writing a movie scene for your challenge in this unit. Write a
short scene using slime and explain the procedure for making slime.
Reflecting on the Activity and the Challenge
What monster movie is complete without slime? Now you know how to make
slime. Supplies for making slime are relatively expensive. Keep costs in mind as
you plan for your special effect.
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Active Chemistry Movie Special Effects
1. List three ways you could modify the properties of your slime. If the slime you
made in this activity is not quite correct for the special effect you have in mind,
how might you modify it for use in your movie?
2. List five other uses that might be possible for the slime substance, in addition to
its use as a movie special effect.
3. Thin sheets of solid PVA slime have been used in several new commercial
products. Since the sheets are soluble in water, they are ideal recyclable
containers. Seed manufacturers have made long tapes of PVA sheets with seeds
imbedded inside. When the tapes are planted in the ground the PVA dissolves
and the seeds are free to grow. Another use is collecting dirty laundry in
hospitals. The solid laundry is placed into PVA bags. When it is time to wash the
clothing the entire bag is thrown into the washing machine. It is not necessary
for workers to handle the dirty clothes again. What two other uses can you
think of for PVA sheet material?
Inquiring Further
1. Self-siphoning slime
Spread your slime on a piece of plastic wrap or waxed paper and let it dry
completely. This may take a day or two. Compare the characteristics of the dry
slime to the wet slime.
PVA slime has been reported to be “self-siphoning.” To siphon most substances, a
tube is placed in a liquid and the siphon is started by sucking the liquid out of the
container, over the edge and down the tube. The mass of the water flowing out of
the tube creates a pressure difference and draws the remainder of the liquid with it.
Slime is supposed to have the same effect, but without the tube! Try demonstrating
this self-siphoning effect with your slime.
2. Viscosity of non-Newtonian liquids
Ketchup is classified as a non-Newtonian liquid. Determine which non-Newtonian
liquid is the most viscous (resistant to flow).
• Set up a retort stand with a ring to hold a long-stem funnel.
• On the funnel place two marks with a pen at about 2 cm apart.
• Pour one of the liquids into the funnel and allow it to flow through the stem into
Safety goggles a beaker.
and a lab apron
must be worn • Let the liquid level come down to your top mark on the side of the funnel and
at all times in a
chemistry lab. stop the flow with your finger.
• Using a stopwatch, time how long it takes for the liquid to flow before it reaches
the second line after you remove your finger.
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