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Ghostbuster Slime

  • Page ID
    222067
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    Science Concept

    Polyvinyl alcohol mixed with borate forms a slimy gel.

    selfsiphon.GIF

    Materials

    • Note: Using the microwave heat both solutions to help the borate and polyvinyl chemicals dissolve in the water. Heat in 20-second intervals, stirring in between each interval. Make sure you do not let the solutions boil at any time. Make sure they are both completely dissolved, otherwise the solution will not form.

      Directions

      • How many of you have seen the movie, Ghostbusters? I love that movie and one of my favorite parts is when Slimer came out and slimed everyone. Today I am going to try and make some of that same slime that was in the movie.

        Explanation

        A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A

        B B B B B B B B B B B B

        A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A

        Poly(vinyl alcohol) is an addition polymer with an average molecular weight of about 100,000 daltons. Borax reacts with water to form a B4O72+/HB4O7- buffer solution with a pH of about 9. The borate ions form hydrogen bonds to the -OH groups on the PVA backbone that weakly cross-link this polymer. Cross-links either weaker or stronger than this would produce materials with very different properties.

        Safety


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