An Exploration of SLIME! Megan Gilles

An Exploration of SLIME! Megan Gilles

Problem & Hypothesis Problem: Which slime recipe will perform the best in each of the chemical and physical tests run? Hypothesis: Ho: The putty recipe containing known polymer reactions will perform with the highest ratings in each of the chemical and physical trials. Ha: The putty recipe without the provided polymer reactions will perform with the highest ratings in the each of the chemical and physical trials.

Background Research Chemical Properties Chemical properties can refer to the bonding ability of an element to another to form a compound, melting point, boiling point or freezing point. Chemical Changes are the result of altering a substance s chemical identity. Physical Properties Physical properties are the complete opposite of chemical properties. These types of properties focus widely on the element or compound s outer characteristics. These can be any number of outer characteristics. It can be: malleability, ductility, luster, texture, stretchiness, or color to name a few. A Physical Change takes place when a substance s outer appearance changes but its chemical identity stays the same.

Background Research (Cont.) According to one of my sources, the reason for the formation of putty when borax and Elmer s glue are combined together (both placed in water to weaken the two ingredients) is due to the polymers (synthetically made polyvinyl acetate) of the glue combining with the different polymers of the borax (the acetate groups link up). Polymers are huge molecules made up of many small units that link together chemically. Heating a polymer can have some varying effects. If the polymer is a linear chain then it is weakly chemically bonded and can be easily broken. These chains can then be reformed when cooled which allows a new shape to form and stay. If, however, the polymer is made from linear chains that crosslink each other then this strong chemically bonded polymer cannot be reformed or melted.

Materials 1- Timer 12-250mL Beakers 3-Ziploc bags 1-Microwave 3-Hot plate 1-Calculator 1-Freezer 3-Thermometers 1-Compression Boat 1-Ramp 3-Physics books 1- PASCO car 1- PASCO GLX 1- PASCO Force Sensor 1- Analytical Balance 10- Weighing Boats 1- Disposable Pipette

Materials Cont. Ectoplasm 236 and 2/3 ml water 4 grams Metamucil Microwave Flubber Putty (heated for 3 minutes twice) Lasts for about a week or longer, if hydrated (sealed in bag, where water cannot escape) 4 gm Metamucil 236 and 2/3 ml water Microwave (heated for 4-5 minutes on high, for 5-6 microwave runs) Can last for several months if sealed in a bag 240 ml tap water 120 ml glue and water 5mL of Borax

Methods Synthesized each slime to the reported materials list and time given Compression Tests: (Physical) Set up ramp to angle desired with 3 books. Force sensor placed at end of ramp with compression boat. Measured out each slime on an analytical balance Performed the compression test for slime and recorded in N/g Boiling Point Tests: (Chemical) Measured out each slime on an analytical balance Used hot plates and thermometers to measure the boiling point for each of the slimes Recorded the boiling point for each slime in o C/g Freezing Point Tests: (Physical) Measured out each slime on an analytical balance Used a freezer and thermometer to measure the time it took to freeze each slime Recorded the freezing temperature for each slime in o C/g

Methods Cont. Reactivity with Acid Tests: (Chemical) Measured out each slime on analytical balance Pipetted 3mL of 6M HNO 3 Recorded any indicators of chemical change (gas production, color change, heat production, precipitate formation) Tensile Strength: (Physical) Measured out each slime on analytical balance Lowered each slime from 1.05m Recorded drop time in g/s for all slime to drop

Variables Dependant Variable Controlled Variables Independent Variables Freezing Point Amount of slime Different Combinations of ingredients Boiling Point Time in microwave Time Compression Force Height of books Car and ramp Reactivity Amount and type of acid used Slime Tensile Amount of slime Rate the slime took to fall

Results Qualitative FLUBBER As you can see, the flubber is very deep orange and has a gelatin like form that is like both a liquid and a solid. It can take the shape of the container, and yet if you were to hold it in your hands it wouldn t spill out of them like water. It has a very smooth texture. Residue from the flubber could be felt on the hands after handling.

Results Qualitative PUTTY The putty was almost like a firmer version of the flubber. It was definitely a solid, but, when given time, it would mold to the shape of the container it was in. In this picture, I had to rip off a piece so I could mass out a sample. Gradually, this piece slowly formed back into place. It has a very soft and squishy texture and can tear very easily.

Results Qualitative ECTOPLASM Ectoplasm is a very runny and lumpy substance. It is very water-like, especially compared to the flubber and putty which have a more solid form. You can see that the ectoplasm is definitely a liquid.

Results...Quantitative Trials Tested Ectoplasm Flubber Putty Freezing Point Average of 2 trials (starting temperature 23 0 C) Freezing Point -5 0 C Time to freeze: 2.5 hours Freezing Point -5 0 C Time to freeze: 2.3 hours Freezing point 3 0 C Time to freeze 2 hours (of note: this temperature was higher than the freezer air temperature) Compression Test (Trials 1,2,3) 13.5 N/g 26.7 N/g 16.3 N/g Mean: 18.3 N/g 12.8 N/g 23.1 N/g 9.9 N/g Mean:15.3 N/g 33.7 N/g 42.2 N/g 30.7 N/g Mean: 35.5 N/g Tensile Strength (stretch) 0.78 seconds 1.87 seconds 1.04 seconds 1.70 seconds 2.28 seconds 1.45 seconds 56.49 seconds 81.82 seconds 86.23 seconds Reactivity (with Acetic Acid) There was no reactivity with any of the materials with acid added to it There was no reactivity with any of the materials with acid added to it There was no reactivity with any of the materials with acid added to it Boiling Point (Trials 1,2,3) 83 0 C when at full boil 80 0 C when at full boil 82 0 C when at full boil 78 0 C when at full boil 77 0 C when at full boil 80 0 C when at full boil 71 0 C when at full boil 73 0 C when at full boil 74 0 C when at full boil

Temperature in o C Freezing Point Freezing Point Putty 4 2 0-2 -4 Average Ectoplasm Flubber -6 Ectoplasm Flubber Putty Freezing Point Averages listed (starting temperature 23 0 C) Freezing Point -5 0 C Time to freeze: 2.5 hours Freezing Point -5 0 C Time to freeze: 2.3 hours Freezing point 3 0 C Time to freeze 2 hours (of note: this temperature was higher than the freezer air temperature)

Newtons per Gram Compression Test 1.4 Compression Test 1.2 1 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0 Trial One Trial Two Trial Three Averages Ectoplasm Flubber Putty Compression Test (Trials 1,2,3 and average) 0.415 N/g 0.820 N/g 0.501 N/g 0.579 N/g 0.395 N/g 0.712 N/g 0.305 N/g 0.471 N/g 1.027 N/g 1.283 N/g 0.935 N/g 1.082 N/g

Seconds Tensile Strength (stretch) Tensile Strength 100 80 60 40 20 0 Trial One Trial Two Trial Three Ectoplasm Flubber Putty Flubber Ectoplasm Putty Tensile Strength (stretch) 0.78 seconds 1.87 seconds 1.04 seconds 1.70 seconds 2.28 seconds 1.45 seconds 56.49 seconds 81.82 seconds 86.23 seconds

Reactivity Results Reactivity 1 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0 TRIAL ONE TRIAL TWO TRIAL THREE Ectoplasm Flubber Putty Reactivity (with Acetic Acid) There was no reactivity with any of the materials with acid added to it There was no reactivity with any of the materials with acid added to it There was no reactivity with any of the materials with acid added to it

Temperature in o C Boiling Point Results Boiling Point 85 80 75 70 65 Trial One Trial Two Trial Three Averages Flubber Ectoplasm Putty Ectoplasm Flubber Putty Boiling Temperature (Trials 1,2,3 and average) 83 0C when at full boil 80 0C when at full boil 82 0C when at full boil 78 0C when at full boil 77 0C when at full boil 80 0C when at full boil 71 0C when at full boil 73 0C when at full boil 74 0C when at full boil

Statistical Analysis Freezing Point Slime Average Standard Deviation Ectoplasm -5 C 0 Flubber -5 C 0 Putty 3 C 0 Compression Test Slime Average Standard Deviation Ectoplasm 18.3 N/g 5.68 Flubber 15.3 N/g 5.66 Putty 35.5 N/g 4.87 Tensile Strength Slime Average Standard Deviation Ectoplasm 1.23 seconds 0.464 Flubber 1.81 seconds 0.347 Putty 74.8 seconds 13.1 Boiling Point Slime Average Standard Deviation Ectoplasm 81.7 C 1.25 Flubber 78.3 C 1.25 Putty 72.6 C 1.25 Due to weather interruptions it would require 7 more trials for reliable X 2 Test results.

Conclusions According to my Ho: The putty recipe containing known polymer reactions will perform with the highest ratings in each of the chemical and physical trials. Initial review of the means, and standard deviations demonstrate a possible connection to substantiate this hypothesis. Therefore I cannot reject my Ho. The flubber had one of the higher boiling points, while it had one of the lower freezing points. The ectoplasm had a very expected outcome in each trial. It s freezing point was the same as the flubber and it took longer (20 more minutes), its compression test had the shortest amount of time (this is due to the waterylike form), the ectoplasm had a much higher boiling point than the other two (this is due to the high amount of water and less heating it underwent in the microwave), and it had no reaction with the acetic acid nor great flexibility.

Future Research & Possible Drawbacks If allowed to continue, I would complete the necessary 7 additional trials for a reliable chi squared statistical analysis. In the future, I would use the results of this experiment and compare it to how people would react to the slime. I could be able to see which is considered safest for children and which would be a very fun but yet indestructible toy for them to play with. I observed the flubber and ectoplasm for months. I did have mold growing within three weeks, which none of my references talked about. I did make a second batch of each slime, because eventually substances separated or became hard to the touch. I could even collect data for these substances by allowing kids the opportunity to play with it and rate it. The survey would provide incite as to which slime is best. If given more time I will do more trials to run the chi squared statistical test to validate my results.

References & Acknowledgements Plastics and Polymers. (2007, August 28). Retrieved February 25, 2015, from http://www.nobelprize.org/educational/chemistry/plastics/readmore.html Ophardt, C. (2003, January 1). Chemical Properties. Retrieved February 25, 2015, from http://www.elmhurst.edu/~chm/vchembook/105achemprop.html Science Buddies Staff. (2014, October 3). Bouncy Polymer Chemistry. Retrieved February 24, 2015 from http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fairprojects/project_ideas/chem_p012.shtml Helmenstine, M. (2015, January 1). Recipes for Making Different Types of Slime. Retrieved February 25, 2015, from http://chemistry.about.com/od/letsmakeslime/tp/slimerecipes.htm Masterton, W., & Hurley, C. (2009). Reactions in Aqueous Solution. In Chemistry Principles and Reactions (6th ed., p. 92). Belmont, California: Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning. Advisors Hollidaysburg Senior High School Board and Administration