Lesson 6 of 6 · Chemical Bonds
Experiment⭐ 30 XP🧪 Potion KitchenPolymers and Nanoparticles
Chemical Bonds.
🎯 Your mission
Predict it first. Then prove yourself right (or wrong).
⚡ The twist
Color changes mean atoms are rearranging — even if you can't see them.
Mind = Blown
🧪 If you could remove all the empty space from atoms, the entire human race would fit in a sugar cube.
Make a hypothesis first
Before you mix: what color do you think it'll turn?
What You'll Learn
Polymers are long chains of repeating monomer units, with properties set by chain length and how strongly chains interact. Nanoparticles are structures around 1–100 nm whose enormous surface-area-to-volume ratio makes them far more reactive than the bulk material.
Key Words
Tap a word to see its definition.
Materials Needed
- PVA glue
- borax solution
- beaker
- stirring rod
- gloves
- ruler
Safety First
- Borax is harmful if swallowed and irritates skin — wear gloves and goggles, and wash hands after.
- Do not let anyone taste the slime; dispose of it in the bin, not the sink.
Steps
Read the explanation above and note the two key terms before you start.
Make slime by cross-linking PVA glue with borax solution and compare its behaviour before and after. Then calculate the surface-area-to-volume ratio of a 1 cm cube and of the same volume divided into 1 mm cubes.
Record what actually happened, including anything that did not match what you expected.
Write a conclusion that answers the question this lesson opened with, and state your uncertainty.
Check Your Understanding
Question 1
1 of 2A polymer is built from repeating units called:
Where you see this in real life
Your toothpaste, your soap, even your breakfast involves this.
Stretch Challenge
Try this in real life this week.
Ask a grown-up to help you mix two safe kitchen things. Predict what will happen first.
For the dinner table
“What's something we cook that mixes things together this way?”
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Polymers and Nanoparticles
Predict it first. Then prove yourself right (or wrong).
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