Science Fair Projects World

Making Slime: A Polymer Science Experiment

Objective

Create slime to explore the properties of polymers and cross-linking.

Materials

  • White school glue (polyvinyl acetate)
  • Borax solution (sodium borate)
  • Water
  • Food coloring (optional)
  • Mixing bowls
  • Spoons or stirring rods
  • Notebook for observations

Instructions

  1. Measure equal parts of white school glue and water into a mixing bowl.
  2. Stir the mixture until the glue is fully diluted.
  3. Add a few drops of food coloring if desired and mix well.
  4. Slowly add a small amount of borax solution to the glue mixture while stirring continuously.
  5. Observe the formation of slime as the polymers cross-link.
  6. Knead the slime with your hands until it reaches the desired consistency.
  7. Record observations, including texture, elasticity, and viscosity, in the notebook.
  8. Experiment with different glue-to-water ratios and borax concentrations to see how the properties of the slime change.
  9. Analyze the results to understand the chemistry behind polymer formation and cross-linking.