Silly Putty-like Material

Purpose:

    We will be making a polymer like Silly Putty.

Materials:

  • Graduated cylinder.
  • Borax crystals from the supermarket.
  • Elmer's glue.
  • paper cup.
  • warm water.
  • plastic bag and a piece of plastic.
  • stick to stir with.

Procedure:

  1. Stir the Borax crystals in warm water so just a few crystals remain on the bottom.

  2. Put 25 ml of Elmer's glue into a paper cup and add 20 ml of water with a few drops of food coloring (optional).

  3. Add 5 ml of the Borax solution and stir with a stick until gloppy.

  4. Put the glop into a plastic bag and knead it.

  5. Remove from the bag and let it sit for a couple of minutes on plastic.

Discussion:

  • Use it on top of a newspaper and see if it will lift a cartoon.
  • If shaped into a ball will it bounce?
  • If stretched slowly, what happens?
  • If pulled rapidly apart, what happens?
  • If it sits undisturbed, what happens?
Wash hands after using the Silly Putty-like Material and do not eat or get this stuff on clothing, etc.

Back to top

home basic science