!
:
!:
t:
ll:
EXPERIM
\_.
lntermoleculor Forces
L
( Slime Gel: Moking ond Kil i n g
I
Purpose
L . Make "slime," a gel of poly(vinyl alcohol) and
borax.
. See.how the physical properties of linear
L polymers can be altered by forming intermolecular
bonds between the chains.
Pre-Lob Preporotion
L If in some cataclysm, all of scientific knowledge
were to be destroyed, and only one sentence
L passed on to the next generation of creatures,
what statement would contain the most
L information in the fewest words? I believe it is
the atomic hypothesis (or the atomic fact, or
whatever you wish to call it) that all things are
\* made of atoms-little particles that move around
in perpetual motion, attracting each other when
they are a little distance apart, but repelling upon
being squeezed into one another. In that one
f sentenceiyou will see, there is an enormous
amount of information about the world, if just a
little imagination and thinking are applied.l
(._ Richard P. Feynman
Feynman's description of two particles attracting
L each other when they are a little distance apart but
repelling each other upon being squeezed into one
L another is graphically shown in Figure 21-1. One
curve represents the energy of interaction, the other
e represents the force of interaction between the two
particles. Net repulsive energy and force are taken as
positive; net attractive force and energy are taken as
L negative. The zero value corresponds to separation
of the two particles at a large (infinite) distance apart.
If we represent the potential energy of interaction
by the symbol U, the interaction force is just the
rR. P Feynman, R. B. Leighton, M. Sands, The Feynman Lectures
L on Physics, Vol I, Addison-Wesley, lnc., 1963, pp. I-2.
E NT
S rme
(negative) derivative of the potential energy curve
with respect to the interparticle distance, r-that is,
force : -dU/dr. The interparticle distance is plotted
as a normalized or dimensionless parameter, in
which the interparticle distance, r; is divided by the
equilibrium interparticle distance, requilibrium. At the
point where y/yequitrbrium: l, the energy is at its
minimum value, corresponding to the trough of the
energy curve, and the force is zero. The depth of
the trough below the U : 0 line is a measure of
the energy binding the two particles together
(I00 kJlmol in this example). As r becomes smaller
than r"orr,,o.,um(t/fequitibriu- < I), the potential energy
and repulsive force increase rapidly as the two parti-
cles are squeezed together (Uand the force become
more positive). As r becomes Iarger than r"or,,,or,r*
(y/hqtlibrium > I), the potential energy and the force
both rapidly approach zero, illustrating that the
intermolecular forces between neutral particles typi-
cally operate over a very short range.
What is an atom? A picture of an atom has
emerged from early twentieth century investigations
as having a small, unimaginably dense nucleus com-
prised of neutral particles (neutrons) and positively
charged particles (protons). The positively charged
nucleus is surrounded by an approximately spherical
cloud of negatively charged particles with much
smaller mass, called electrons. This electron cloud
defines the volume of space that the atoms occupy
when they are squeezed together and in effect deter-
mines the size of the atom.
When atoms get close enough together, they can
form stable aggregates that we call molecules. If the
forces holding the atoms together are sufficiently
large, we say that the atoms have formed a chemical
bond, in which the atoms are held together in a sta-
ble configuration that resists change.
When molecules are close to one another, they
also tend to stick together, attracted by weak short-
range forces. If there were no intermolecular forces
between molecules, all molecules would be gases.
Molecules cannot exist in a liquid or solid form
2t-l
21-2 lntermoleculor Forces L
Potential Energy, U, and Force vs. gen and oxygen, and a physical process, such as the
lnterparticle Distance evaporation of liquid water to form gaseous water.
300 I
All can be viewed as resulting from the mutual inter-
I
I
action of positively charged nuclei and negatively
I charged electrons. So the distinction between a phys-
I

200 Potentia I
I ical and chemical process is one of degree and not of
I
Energy, U I kind. Physical processes involve weaker intermolecu-
I
I lar (electric) forces and chemical processes involve
=o I

E 100
I stronger interatomic (electric) forces.
I
") Weak intermolecular electric forces are responsi-
v I
I
J I ble for many of the familiar bulk properties of liquids
I
o)
0 t-
I and solids, including viscosity (the resistance to
(!)
cq) flow), the volatility or vapor pressure of liquids and
t solids, the melting point and energy of fusion (melt-
cq) ing), the boiling point and energy of vaporization, the
100
u
lt
tl
solubility of one kind of molecule in another, the
tl adsorption and catalytic activity of surfaces, adhe-
tl
l,
t,
Force = -dUldr sion (related to the properties of adhesives and
-200 l, glues), surface tension, friction and lubrication, the
t,
l, formation of monomolecular films and bilayer mem-
branes, detergent action, the formation of emulsions
-300
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 and foams, gelation, hydrogen bonding, and specific
rl requi torttm ( i nterpa rlicle d ista nce )
interactions in synthetic or biological systems (often
called molecular recognifion). These properties are
i dependent on the shapes and charge distribution in
FIGURE 2l-l i The potential energy, U, and
interaction force between two particles as a interacting molecules. For example, enzymes in the
function of the normalized distance between the body exert their catalytic effects on chemical reac-
particles, f/yeqtitibrium. The potential energy is a tions by binding a molecule in a way that facilitates or
minimum and the force is zero at the equilibrium speeds up the reaction rate of the molecule. Perhaps
separation, where y/yeqaitibrium = l.OO and r = you can use your own thinking and imagination to
requitibrium. As the particles are squeezed together,
both the potential energy and the interaction add to the list.
force approach large positive values, reflecting In this experiment, we will study how altering the
the repulsion between the particles. As the intermolecular forces between polymer chains has a
distance between the particles becomes large, dramatic effect on the physical properties of the
both the potential energy and interaction force polymer solution. The term polymer comes from the
approach zero. Greek (poly, "many," + meros, "part") and refers to a
large molecule made up of many pafis. Mqcromole-
cule is a term synonymous with polymer. Polymers
unless there are intermolecular forces holding them are made by linking together simple molecules called
together. Without these forces, there would be no liq- monomers ("single parts"). If the monomers add \
uid water or ice, no solid wood, nothing to hold the together so that the polymer contains all of the
strands of protein together in the tissues and mus- atoms of the monomer molecules, the reaction is
cles of our bodies. In short, life as we know it could called addition polymerization. If small by-product
not exist. molecules such as water are formed during the poly-
At the root of atomic and molecular structure is merization process, the reaction is called condensa-
the mutual attraction of particles with opposite tion polymerization.
charge-what are called electrostatic or electrody- In this experiment, we will study a.synthetic
namic forces, depending on whether the particles are polymer, made by addition polymerization of the
stationary or moving. The fundamental kind of elec- monomer vinyl acetate, followed by hydrolysis of
tric force binding two hydrogen atoms to an oxygen
atom to form a water molecule is the same as the
the acetate group to produce an alcohol (-OH)
group. The resulting polymer is called poly(vinyl
L
force that holds water molecules together to form alcohol), or PVA. It is a water-soluble linear polymer
liquid water. In this sense, there is no fundamental with a carbon atom backbone having a predominant
distinction between a chemical process, such as the pattern of -OH groups on alternate carbon atoms, as
formation of water by reaction of molecular hydro- shown in Figure 21-2.
\-- lntermoleculor Forces 2t-3

(. H2
HI H"C
(
H
I
H
I

C_
H
I rl
c-l
H
I
H
I
H-C-OH
'rta,
H-C-O n O-C-H
C C
rl c C
/{)/\
B
I I I I I 2 H"C +B{OH),-H,C
'\ CH.+4H-O
\
H OH H OH H OH ,/\ /
n H_C_OH H_C-O O-C_H
H"C
,/\ CH"
H"C
L FIGURE
I
2l-2 | Poly(vinyl alcohol), or
PVA, is a
linear polymer in which the predominant I
'\- aJ

structure is a carbon atom backbone with
t* hydroxy (-OU) groups on alternate carbon atoms.
The PVA polymer strands have an average
molecular weight of about 78,OOO, corresponding
\
to an average of about lSOO -[CH2-CH-OH]-
monomer units (MW = 441 in each strand,
L
The gelotion of poly(vinylolcohol)with borox
Adding a molecule that produces cross-linking inter-
FIGURE 2t-3 * A tetrahydroxyborate ion, B(OH)^-,
forms a cross-link between two strands of
poly(vinyl alcohol). Each tetrahydroxyborate ion
can react with four -OH groups. The B-O bonds
are labile, rapidly and continuously breaking and
reforming.
is very much like the bonding in water between
hydrogen and oxygen atoms. The polar covalent
bonds in water are fairly strong, but there is a ten-

t actians between the chains of a linear polymer pro-

duces a structure with less flexibility. In the limit
where the cross-linking bonds, once formed, are very
strong and do not let go, a rigid three-dimensional
structure will be formed. Examples of this would
L include epoxy resins and vulcanized rubber.
If the cross-link bonds are weaker or are not per-
manently formed, something can form that is
L between a liquid and solid, having properties of a
viscous gel. It can flow, but only slowly. Intermo-
L lecular links of this kind are formed when a solu-
tion of borax (sodium tetraborate decahydrate,
Na2BaO7.10H2O, FW 381.4) is added to a solution of
L PVA. When dissolved in water, sodium tetraborate
forms an equimolar mixture of boric acid and
f sodium tetrahydroxyborate ion, B(OH)n-:
+ 7H2O=
NarB4OT(s)
(..
2B(OH)3(aq) + 2Na+(aq) + 2B(OH)n-(aq)
The concentration of B(OH)r- in solution can be
L determined by titration of B(OH). with a strong acid
such as sulfuric acid:
I
2 Na+ + 2 B(oH)4 + H2Soo -
2 B(oH):(aq) + 2 Na+ + SOa2 + 2H2o
L responses to shearing and stressing: With slow
From the overall stoichiometry of Equations (1) and
(2), you can see that one mole of sulfuric acid titrates
the two B(OH)4- ions produced by one mole of borax.
When a solution containing tetrahydroxyborate
ion, B(OH)*-, is added to an aqueous solution of
poly(vinyl alcohol), the borate ion forms cross-links
between the alcohol groups on adjacent polymer
chains, as shown in Figure 21-3. These look like
I covalent bonds, and in fact they are polar covalent
bonds, but they have an additional important
property-they are labile. This means that they are
\_ continually and rapidly breaking and reforming. This
dency for water molecules to .dissociate to a slight
extent, forming H3O+ ions and OH- ions. This
process of breaking and reforming bonds is so rapid
that, if you put a small amount of DrO (where deu-
terium is the form of hydrogen with mass 2, having
an extra neutron in the nucleus) into a large amount
of ordinary water, the deuterium form of hydrogen is
rapidly distributed throughout all of the water mole-
cules so that most of the deuterium-labeled water will
be in the form of HDO, with very few water molecules
existing as D2O. Similarly, when B(OH), labeled with
18O (a form of oxygen with two extra neutrons in the
nucleus) is added to a solution containing B(OH)+
ion, the 180 label is rapidly and uniformly distributed
among all of the boron-containing species.
When the cross-links are labile (rapidly'breaking
and reforming), the linear polymer chains can still
move past one another but not as easily as when
(1)
there is no cross-linking, so a viscous gel forms that
still retains some liquid-like properties, However, if
the gel is stirred very rapidly, the gel becomes more
viscous-the harder you stir, the more viscous it
becomes. In other words, it does not behave like a
normal liquid. In fact, the gel has three distinct
(2)
shearing (stirring), it flows like a highly viscous fluid,
such as thick molasses; at somewhat faster shearing,
it behaves like a piece of rubber; fast shearing causes
it to fracture when it is pulled apart suddenly.
Noturol polymers
Natural linear polysaccharide (polysugar) polymers
can form similar gels with borax. A plaything called
Slime@, marketed by the Mattel Corporation, is a gel
formed by mixing a solution of the natural polysac-
charide guar wilh borax. Guar is extracted from a
leguminous plant native to India.
2t-4 lntermoleculor Forces

Other natural linear polysaccharides include

agar and carrageenan (both extracted from seaweed)
and starch (extracted from corn or potatoes). These
natural products are widely used to thicken and give
a smooth texture to foods and cosmetics and also
A At the end of the laboratory, wash

find uses as adhesives and as sizing for silk and clothing or the
paper. in the
Natural polymers are of crucial importance to
living organisms. Without natural structural poly- to take
mers such as the cellulose in plants or the proteins
that constitute the muscle and sinew of animals, no Be careful not
living plant or animal could stand upright against
the pull of gravity. We would all be creatures of the
sea, where our delicate membranes could be sup-
ported by floating in water. Plant and animal
enzymes, which catalyze all vital biochemical reac-
tions, are polymers of amino acids. Finally, deoxyri-
bonucleic acid (DNA), the very stuff of the genetic
inheritance of all plants and animals, is a polymer of
nucleic acids.

Experimentol Procedure 7, Titration of Borax with Salfuric Acid Borax,

Special Supplies: 1-mL microburet (see the Introduc-
tion to the lab manual); polyethylene transfer pipets
with 0.5-mL and I.O-mL calibration marks; wooden stir-
rers (tongue depressors or popsicle or craft sticks); plas-
tic sandwich bags; Handi-Wrap film.
Chemicals: 4% (40 g/L) poly(vinyl alcohol) solution
(PVA powder, J. T. Baker, 99.0*99.8% fully hydrolyzed,
MW 77,000-79,000; guar gum is a suitable and less
expensive substitute for PVA); a% eO g/L) borax, sodium
tetraborate decahydrate (Na2BaO7 . l0H20) solution; 3.0
M HrSOn; 1.0 M NaOH; 0.1% bromocresol green, sodium
salt indicator.
W NorEs ro tNsrRucroR W
PVA powder dissolves slowly. It must be sprinkled in
the water in small increments with vigorous stirring,
sufficient to produce a small vortex; otherwise,
lumps will form that are difficult to dissolve. Warm-
ing the water to 75-80 'C helps dissolve the powder
faster. A large stirrer/hot plate, set to low heat with a
large magnetic stirring bar, provides both vigorous
stirring and warming. If the PVA solution is heated on
a hot plate set on high with inadequate stirring, the
solution is likely to scorch, producing a very dis-
agreeable odor. Allow 24-48 h to prepare the PVA
solution and get it fully hydrated and free of lumps.
Use the same precautions if guar gum is substi-
tuted for poly(vinyl alcohol).
sodium borate decahydrate, is an efflorescent salt,
meaning that it loses water when exposed to air of
50% or less relative humidity. Therefore, it is neces-
sary to titrate the borax solution in order to deter-
mine its concentration accurately. Put l0 mL of the
4% borax solution into a 25-mL Erlenmeyer flask.
(The 4% borax solution can be measured in a I0-mL
graduated cylinder, or you can weigh out 10.0 g into
the 2S-mL flask, because 10.0 mL = 10.0 g.)
Add 10 drops of 0.1% bromocresol green indica-
tor and titrate the resulting blue solution with 3.0 M
HrSOn in a 1-mL microburet to the first appearance of
a permanent yellow color. (See the Introduction to
the lab manual for a description of the I-mL
microburet, made from a I-mL tuberculin syringe.)
Repeat the titration using a second l0-mL sample of
4% borax solution. From the volume and concentra-
tion of sulfuric acid, calculate the molar concentra-
tion of borax. [One mole of HrSO, titrates one mole
of borax, as shown by Equations (l) and (2)j. Com-
pare with the expected theoretical molarity expected
for 4.0% borax, 0.105 M.
2, Making "Slime," a Gel of Poly(Vinyl Alcohol)
and Borax Place 50 mL of a 4% aqueous solution of
poly(vinyl alcohol) in a 25O-mL beaker. Add 10 drops
of 0.1% bromocresol green indicator to the PVA solu- \-
tion. Stirring continuously, add 1.0 mL of 4%borax
solution. It will be sufficiently accurate to measure
the volume of borax solution using a polyethylene
\-
transfer pipet having a 1-mL calibration mark. Some-
thing stiff and wide, like a wooden popsicle or craft
\-_
stick or a half-inch-wide stainless-steel scoop, makes
a better stirrer than a glass rod (recall mixing cans of
\_ paint). Continue vigorous stirring until the mixture
forms a homogeneous gel. If the mixture separates
into two phases (a gel and liquid), try scraping the
gel off the stirrer and using a back and forth stirring
i motion straight across the beaker to chop up the gel,
rather than a circular stirring motion. With time and
sufficient stirring, the solution will form a homoge-
f neous gel. The resulting gel has a pH of about 9,
causing the bromocresol green indicator to appear
\- blue.
Note and record the characteristics of the gel,
such as its viscosity (resistance to flow). Try stirring
\..-_
it slowly, then as fast as you can. Is there a difference
in the way the gel behaves? Can you pour the gel
\_ from one container to another? What happens to the
gel when you place a lump of it in the center of a
\._ clean watch glass or clean piece of plastic film (such
as Handi-Wrap)?
a Now add, with stirring, a second 1.0-mL portion
of 4%borax solution to the gel. Stir until the gel is
homogeneous. Note and record any change in the
\ properties of the gel. Is it more viscous? Or less? Is it
still as easily stirred?
( Finally, add with stirring a third 1.O-mL portion of
4% borax solution to the gel. As before, note and
record any changes in the properties of the gel. After
a preparing the gel, observe its unusual viscoelastic
properties. When completely gelled, the material can
\_ be handled with the bare hands. (This is the fun part.)
Try rolling the gel into a ball, then seeing how long it
I
takes for the ball to flatten out when placed on a
clean watch glass or piece of Handi-Wrap film. Try
pulling on the gel at different speeds, slowly then
\- very rapidly. What happens when you try to pull the
gel apart suddenly? Can you knead pieces of the gel
f together by working them with your fingers? Note
and record how the gel behaves under these different
conditions.
3. Killing and Resurrecting Slime Gel From the
f borax titration you did in part l, you know the vol-
ume of 3.0 M H2SO4 that it took to neutralize 10 mL of
L borax solution. Therefore, it should take 0.30 times
this volume to neutralize the total of 3.0 mL of borax
added to the gel. Using your 1-mL microburet, add
L precisely this volume of 3.0 M HrSOn to the gel. (lt
should be a small volume, in the 0.I0-0.15 mL range.)
I
In principle, this is precisely the amount of HrSOn
required to react with all of the B(OH)4- ion that was
present in the borax solution. If it is tetrahydroxybo-
rate ion that forms the cross-links in the gel, what
(
would you expect to happen if the ion is converted to
B(OH):? Stir the gel until it is again homogeneous. If
lntermoleculor Forces .21-5
you have added enough HrSOn to neutralize the
B(OH)4-, the bromocresol green indicator should be
yellow, like the end point in the titration. During the
intermediate stage of mixing, before the mixture is
homogeneous, you may see lumps of blue gel in a
yellow solution. If so, keep stirring and mixing until
the solution is homogeneous.
Note and record any changes in the properties of
the gel resulting from the addition of the HrSOo. Is
the gelation process reversible? To test this, add
2.0 mL of 1.0 M NaOH, measured with a polyethylene
transfer pipet having a 1-mL calibration mark. This is
more than enough to neutralize the added H2SO4.
The bromocresol green indicator should again be
blue. Stir the gel again. Does the gel regain its high
viscosity? Note and record your observations.
re coNsrDER rHts W
Let's try to imagine what a solution of poly(vinyl
alcohol), or PVA, looks like on a microscopic scale.
First, show that the average strand of PVA (MW
78,000) has about I800 monomer units. If each unit
contains two carbon atoms, and if each carbon
atom has a diameter of about 154 picometers (pm),
how long would the PVA strand be if stretched out
in a straight line, like a strand of uncooked
spaghetti?
Next, if we had 1 L of PVA solution spread out in
a sheet whose thickness was equal to the length of a
PVA strand, what would be the area of the sheet? If
we divide this area by the number of PVA strands in
L L of 4% PVA solution (about 3 x 1020), we get the
average area per strand. If we think of this average
area/strand as a little square containing, on average,
the cross-sectional area of one strand of PVA, the
square root of the area of this little square would
give the edge length of the square. This edge length
would be equal to the average distance between
strands of PVA. (lmagine each little square contain-
ing a cross-sectional area of a PVA strand located at
the center of the square.) Show that this edge length
is about 2.4 nanometers (nm), or about ten times the
diameter of a PVA strand assumed to be about
0.2-0.3 nm. So the strands of PVA must be fairly
close together in solution but not as tightly packed
as individual strands in a bowl of cooked spaghetti.
It would be more like spaghetti strands being
cooked in a pot of water, if the strands were stirred
so that they were uniformly distributed throughout
the pot.
Now imagine that tetrahydroxyborate ion forms
labile bonds between the strands of PVA. We talked
before about the lability of bonds in water
-OH
2t-6 lntermoleculor Forces
being based on the fast reaction that results in the
ionization of water:
.H2O
+ H2O=HrO+ + OH- (K*: 10-14)
An analogous equilibrium involving B(OH)3 and
B(OH)4- ion would be the fast reaction that results in
the ionization of B(OH)r:
B(OH): + H2O + H3O+ + B(OH)4- (& - 10 e)
In the equilibrium of Equation (4), B(OH)3 acts as
a weak Lewis acid (an electron-pair acceptor). The
continual rapid breaking and reforming of B-OH
bonds could account for the lability of the bonds
between tetrahydroxyborate and PVA strands shown
in the chemical equilibrium in Figure 21-3. These
labile bonds tend to stick the PVA strands together,
while still allowing them to slowly slide past one
another.
Calculate the molar concentration of groups
in 4% PYA solution, assuming a0 g/L-OH PVA and a
monomer molecular weight of 44 g/moL Show that
one mole of borax provides enough B(OH)+ to form
bonds with eight moles of groups. Considering
-OH
this information, how many mL of 4% (O.l M) borax
solution would be required to form bonds with all of
the groups in 50 mL of 4%PYA solution?
-OH
Research the terms "Newtonian fluid" and "non-
Newtonian fluid." Describe the behavior of your
slime gel using these terms.
Bibliogrophy
Cassassa, E. 2., Sarquis, A. M., Van Dyke, C. H., "The
(3)
Gelation of Polyvinyl Alcohol with Borax: A Novel
Class Participation Experiment Involving the
Preparation and Properties of a 'Slime'," J. Chem.
Educ.1986, 63,57-60.
(4) McLaughlin, K. W., Wyffels, N. K., Jentz, A. B.,
Keenan, M. V., "The Gelation of Poly(Vinyl Alcohol)
with NarBoOr.10H2O: Killing SIime," J. Chem.
Educ.1997, 74,97-99.
Sarquis, A. M., "Dramatization of Polymeric Bonding
Using Slime," J. Chem. Educ. 1986, 63, 60-61.
Sarquis, A. M. (ed.), Chain Gang: The Chemistry of
Polymers, Terrific Science Press, Center for
Chemical Education, Miami University
Middletown, 4200 E. University Blvd.,
Middletown, Ohio 15012 3197,
u/ww.terrificscience.org/shop/all-books-
alphabetical
Sarquis, M., Woodward, L., Polymers All Around You,
2nd ed., Terrific Science Press, Center for
Chemical Education, Miami University
Middletown, 4200 E. University BIvd.,
Middletown, Ohio 45042-3497,
www.terrifi cscience.orglshop/all-books-
alphabetical
Walker, J., "Serious Fun with Polyox, Silly Putty,
Slime, and Other Non-Newtonian Fluids," Scientific
American, 1978, 239(5), I86.
\_
 f,EPORT 2 I
I

) "l
l

Intermolecular Forces Name

Slime Gel: Making and Killing Slime Date Section

Locker Instructor-

L
L Observolions

I. Titrotion of borox with sulfuric ocid

\- Data

\_ Trial I Trial 2

L Volume of 4%borax solution mL mL

Volume of 3.0 M H2SO1 titrant mL mL

Initial reading of buret mL mL

a Final reading of buret mL mL

Net volume of 3.0 M H2SO. mL mL

L For titration, calculate the concentration of 4%borax in mol/L. Compare with the expected theoretical value
of 0.105 M.
L
(.*
Borax solution mol/L mol/L

(- Average value of the borax molarity: mol/L

2. Moking "sli/me," o gelof poly(vinyl olcohol) ond borote

After each successive addition of a 1-mL portion of 4%borax solution to 50 mL of 4%poly(vinyl alcohol) or
PVA solution, describe the properties of the gel:

f What happens when you stir the gel slowly?

t What happens when you stir the gel rapidly?

L
What happens when you attempt to pour the gel from one beaker to another?

Can you roll it in your hands and form a ball of gel?

2t-7
 (

What happens when a ball of gel is allowed to stand on a watch glass or piece of Handi-Wrap film?

What happens when you suddenly pull on a ball of gel?

3. Killing ond resurrecting slime gel

Calculate the volume of 3.0 M H2SO, required to neutralize the total 3 mLof 4% borax solution added in
part I.

Describe the properties of the gel after adding the calculated volume of 3.0 M H2SOa and thoroughly mixing
the gel. Also note the color of the bromocresol green indicator in the gel after mixing.

\-
\_

Is gel formation reversible? Describe what happens after adding 2 mL of 1.0 M NaOH (more than enough to
neutralize the added 3.0 M H2S04). Does the gel re-form? What is the color of the bromocresol green
indicator? Are the properties of the gel the same as those described in part I? \,,_

21-8
o RE PORT 2I SHEET 2

Name Date

\-

ffii{ffiffiffiffi* coNsrDER rHts tffiL"l.,---...,

L Show that the average strand of PVA (MW 78,000) contains about I800 monomer units

L
f Calculate the approximate length of a PVA strand, assuming that each monomer unit contributes two carbon
atom diameters to the length (t carbon atom diameter: 154 pm).

\_

I
Show that 1.00 L of 4%(4O C/L) PVA contains about 3 x I020 PVA strands

Assuming that 1.00 L of 4% PVA solution is spread out to form a thin sheet of thickness equal to the average
length of a PVA strand, calculate the total area of the liquid sheet. Then calculate the average area of the sheet
of solution per strand of PVA. Assuming this area is a little square, the square root of this area gives the edge
length of the square, which is approximately the average distance between PVA strands. Show that this
distance is about ten times the estimated diameter of a PVA strand (0.2-0.3 nm).

Calculate the molar concentration of -OH groups in4%PYA solution, assuming aO g/L PVA and a monomer
molecular weight of 44 g/mol. Show that one mole of borax provides enough B(OH)4- to form bonds with eight
moles of -OH groups. Considering this information, how many mL of 4%(0.1 M) borax solution would be
required to form bonds with all of the -OH groups in 50 mL of 4%PYA solution?

Research the terms Newtoniqn fluid and non-Newtonian fluid. Describe the behavior of your slime gel using
these terms.

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