Do-It-Yourself "Goofy Putty" By Steven Spangler

INGREDIENTS

INSTRUCTIONS

Making The Borax Water:  Borax is a type of powder soap that is available
in most grocery stores.  Add 1 tablespoon Borax powder to 1 cup of Water.
Stir until most of the powder dissolves.  Store the Borax Water in a jar or
bottle, and label the container "BORAX & WATER MIXTURE". Remember that one
cup of Borax water will make many batches of "Goofy Putty".
Preparing The Glue:  Measure 1 tablespoon of Elmer's Glue into a
zipper-lock bag.  Add 1 teaspoon of plain water to the bag and mix. The
additional water makes the glue flow better.  Add a drop of food coloring
to spice up the experiment.
Making Goofy Putty:  Add 1 tablespoon of Borax Water to the bag of
watered-down glue.  Seal the bag and squeeze for 2 minutes in order to
thoroughly mix the liquids.  Notice that the liquids are starting to form a
putty-like substance.  Remove the putty from the bag and continue to
squeeze.  Try to explain how and why the glue changed.
How Does It Work:  The mixture of Elmer's Glue with Borax and water
produces a putty-like material called a polymer.  In simplest terms, a
polymer is a long chain of molecules.  As a model for these chains of
molecules, picture in your mind strands of cooked spaghetti.  If the
polymer chains slide past each other easily, then the substance acts like a
liquid because the molecules flow.  If the molecules hook together at a few
places along the strand, then the substance behaves like a rubbery solid
called an elastomer.  Borax is the chemical that is responsible for hooking
the glue's molecules together to form the putty-like material.
There are several different methods for making this putty-like material.
Some recipes call for liquid starch instead of Borax Soap. Either way, when
you make "Goofy Putty" you are learning about some of the fun an unusual
properties of polymers.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS WITH CHEMICALS Although these substances are not
considered hazardous, you should treat all chemicals with care and wash
your hands after handling.  Do not taste or eat any of the materials
described in these activities. Do not pour any of these experiments down
the sink.  Do not allow any GOOFY PUTTY to remain on clothing, upholstery,
wood surfaces, or carpet. These substances may stain and damage the
surface.  Clean up any spill immediately.
Source: Mad Scientist 1995 Girl Scout Day Camp
Posted to MM-Recipes Digest V4 #098 by BobbieB1@aol.com on Apr 8, 1997

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