Borax and White Glue
Karen Lu, Kate Harris, Chloe Barker and Avery Holt
Materials
Procedures
First, pour 6 teaspoons of Elmer's glue* in a cup. Add 6 teaspoons of water to the cup containing the Elmer's glue and mix for 2 minutes using a plastic spoon.
Add 2-4 drops of food coloring of your choice to the glue and water.
Then, in a separate cup mix 1 teaspoon of Borax powder* and the 12 teaspoons of water*. Mix well for about 2 minutes.
Next, slowly stir the glue mixture into the Borax solution in a bowl.
Mix for 3 minutes.
Put the slime in your hand and knead. (The more the slime is played with, the firmer and less sticky it will become.
When done playing with the slime, place it into a plastic bag so the food coloring doesn’t stain any surfaces.
* does not have to be exact measurements
Safety Precautions
Chemical Reaction
The mixture of Elmer’s Glue (PVA- polyvinyl acetate) with Borax (sodium borate) and water produces a putty-like material called a polymer, which is a long chain of molecules. Borax forms cross-links between the polymer chains in the polyvinyl alcohol. These are chemical bonds that hold the chains together, making the mixture less flexible and much thicker.
Chemical Equations
Synthesis
Endergonic and Endothermic
By observing the chemical reaction, you can feel the mixture becoming cold. Therefore the chemical reaction is an endothermic reaction, meaning it absorbs heat energy. Since it is absorbing energy, this makes the chemical reaction endergonic.