Name:______Date:______Flubber Lab: Investigating Properties of Matter

Goals: 1. Make slime from common items 2. Adjust the properties of the slime by adding another material to it. 3. Compare the properties of an emulsion to those of a composite material 4. Consider the advantages and disadvantages of using composites for industrial applications.

What Do You Think?: Some of the most popular toys on the market these days are gooey, slimy and loved by kids. Nickelodeon has produced toys like Gak, Floam, and Zzand. These awesome toys really are just simple chemical concoctions.  What do you think is the fascination with these products?

 What do you think these items are made from?

 What do you think the cost is of mass producing these items?

Investigate: Safety note: When working with the material do not touch your face without first washing your hands. 1. Use the ingredients and directions following to make 2 batches of slime. Answer any questions that are embedded in the steps. Ingredients:  10 mL of polyvinyl acetate (glue) (split in two equal parts)  10 mL of Borax solution (split in two equal parts) Directions:  Pour 5 mL of the polyvinyl acetate (PVA) into a beaker  Add 5mL of the Borax Solution to the PVA  With a popsicle stick stir the mixture until all ingredients are incorporated  In a new beaker pour 5 mL of the polyvinyl acetate  In the new beaker (in the step above) add a small sample of either sand or paper towel pieces.  In the new beaker (step above) add 5 mL of the Borax solution, stir 2. You will now observe and compare the properties of the 2 samples. In your group discuss how you will test for each of the following properties:  Texture, elasticity, uniformity, bounce, strength and malleability o If you are not sure what you should do please see the Chem Talk on page 346 of your textbook or your notes pages from Monday. 3. Record the procedure you will use to test for each property, your observations and briefly describe the differences between the two kinds of mixtures. Speculate on why the material with sand or paper towel may have behaved differently.

Procedure Observations Differences Why did it behave differently?

Texture

Elasticity

Uniformity

Bounce

Strength

Malleability

4. Clean up by throwing out your slime, washing out your beakers with soap and water, cleaning off your craft sticks and returning your lab equipment to the proper location. Please answer the following questions on this page. If you are stuck on a question please refer to the activity or the Chem Talk section of your textbook. Attach another piece of paper if you need more room.

1. IN YOUR OWN WORDS define the following terms: a. Texture-

b. Uniformity-

c. Strength-

d. Elasticity-

e. Bounce-

f. Malleability-

2. Provide a situation in which each of the following properties might be important; elasticity, uniformity, strength, bounce.

3. Plastics are made of one type of material. Why are they not classified as a composite?

4. When road contractors are laying cement, they first place a series of steel rods in a specific pattern. Then they pour the cement on the rods and allow it to harden. The composite is called reinforced concrete. What is the purpose of the steel rods?

5. Movie producers use their knowledge of composites, texture, strength, elasticity, bounce, and uniformity when deciding what props, tools and effects to add to their movies. How might you use this information in your movie scene?

6. Overall, how well do you think you did on this activity? Did you work well with your group? Is there anything you would change?