Flubber: Make a polymer!

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This activity (on page 2 of the PDF) features a recipe to create the stretchy polymer Flubber from Borax detergent, white glue, and water. This fun and easy activity provides opportunities to discuss polymers, chemical reactions, and the characteristics of liquids and solids. This is a take-home version of the experiment of the same name in the Chemistry of Toys unit in OMSI's Chemistry Lab. Also included in the PDF are two additional activities: Chalk it up and Invisible Ink.

Quick Guide

Preparation Time:
5 to 10 minutes
Learning Time:
10 to 30 minutes
Estimated Materials Cost:
$1 - $5 per student
Age Range:
Ages 4 - 14
Resource Types:
Activity, Experiment/Lab Activity
Language:
English

Materials List (per student)

  • 2 bowls or other mixing containers
  • 1/2 cup warm water
  • 2/3 cup glue
  • food coloring (a few drops)
  • 1/3 cup warm water
  • 1 teaspoon borax

Keywords

Subjects

  • Physical Sciences
    • Chemistry
      • Chemical Reactions
    • States of Matter
      • Solids
      • Liquids
    • Structure and Properties of Matter

Informal Categories

  • Toys

Audience

To use this activity, learners need to:

  • see
  • touch

Learning styles supported:

  • Involves hands-on or lab activities

Other

This resource is part of:

Access Rights:

  • Free access

By:

Rights:

Funding Source:

  • National Science Foundation