Polymer and Hydrogen Bonds

Procedure for the Formation of "Slime" from Polyvinyl Alcohol and Borax

Materials

• 50 ml distilled water
• 2 g polyvinyl alcohol
• 5 ml of a 4% aqueous solution of sodium tetraborate
• 250 ml beaker
• stirring hot plate, with stir bar
• thermometer
• 100 ml plastic cup
• flat bladed stirrer

Preparation
Pour 50 ml of distilled water into the 250 ml beaker, place a stir bar in the beaker, and set the beaker on the stirring hot plate. Warm the water to a temperature not to exceed 90 degrees C. While stirring, slowly sprinkle 2 g of polyvinyl alcohol on the surface of the water.

Pour the alcohol solution and 5 mL of the sodium borate solution together into the plastic cup and stir the mixture vigorously with the wooden stirrer. Gel formation begins almost immediately.

Disposal
Discard in a solid waste receptacle. The gel will come out of clothing with laundering.