Polymer and Hydrogen Bonds

Topic:
Chemistry

Type of web activity:
A lesson that uses websites as a source of background information and as a source for interpreting experimental results.

Materials / Software needed:
Web access.

Grade Level:
11th grade

Time involved:
One day for background Web activities, one day for doing the experiments, and one day for Web activities that will guide the interpretation of the experiments.

Created on:
Aug. 6, 1999

Updated:
November 2003

This site developed and maintained by Deborah Hunt and Eric Muller .

3601 Lyon St.
San Francisco, CA 94123

© The Exploratorium

Introduction: In this activity you are to do three experiments in which reactants are combined to produce an unknown substance. Before doing the experiments, you need to complete two assignments:

• First, read the Web sites and answer the questions regarding background information.
• Second, write down a separate experimental design for each experiment. (See the Experimental Design Page for instructions on how to concisely describe the design of experiments that involve the observation of a chemical reaction.) After you complete both of the above assignments you will be ready to do the three experiments. Finally, answer the questions in the Discussion and Analysis Worksheet.

Background Information : Be sure to carefully read this site and check out its links. Complete the Background Worksheet to test your understanding of the background information.

Experimental Design: Remember that you need to complete the three experimental designs, which can be gleaned from each procedure, before you do the experiments.

Procedure for the formation of Nylon.

Procedure for the formation of "Slime" from Polyvinyl Alcohol and Borax.

Procedure for the formation of a "Glob" from Elmer's Glue and Borax.

Discussion and Analysis Worksheet Before completing the worksheet , relax and check out the Colorado physics Web site. Find the applet on water , "a dipole molecule in a changing field." Spend a few minutes in order to become accustomed to how water can swivel in response to a moving ion.

If you have any suggestions or some constructive criticism of this site please Send mail to the author.