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Polymers Cross Linking Lab: a CORE learning Cycle

Jakob Varney

Lab Partners: Kyle Douin, Elizabeth, and Lily

Anjana Ranasinghe

9-13-2022, 9-26-2022, Anjana Ranasinghe Section 0078

I. Introduction:

In this lab, we explored the analogy of Polymers and cross-linking using black and white

paper clips to explore the molecular structure of polyvinyl alcohol and sodium borate. The cross

linker was sodium borate, and the polymer was the polyvinyl alcohol. This experiment focused

on the relationship between the polymer and crosslink, and how different amounts of each

substance would contribute to the overall structure of the slime.

II. Data, Results, and Evidence:

Procedure:

Phase 1.

1. Use an electronic balance and measure the mass of an empty graduated cylinder.

2. Measure out 30mL of 4% polyvinyl alcohol in the graduated cylinder and record its mass.

3. Use a different graduated cylinder and repeat steps 1 and 2 to determine the mass of 30

mL of the 4% sodium borate solution.

4. In another cylinder, measure 30mL of water in a newly weighed cylinder and record the

mass.
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5. Measure 5 mL of sodium borate and 20 mL of polyvinyl alcohol into two graduated

cylinders. Pour each solution through a funnel into two separate beakers. Observe the

differences as they go through the funnel.

6. Record the mass of a third beaker. Pour the 20 mL of polyvinyl alcohol into the massed

beaker. Then, pour the 5 mL of sodium borate in and stir.

7. Record your observations. What happened when the chemicals mixed?

8. Measure the volume and mass of your slime and record the values in your notebook.

9. Calculate the density of the slime.

10. Finally, pass the slime through the funnel and record what happens.

Phase 2.

1. Create 3 chains of white paper clips. Each chain should have 5 paper clips in it. Don’t

connect the chains.

2. Pour one chain through the funnel. Repeat this action and record your observations.

3. Pour a single black paper clip down the funnel and record your observations.

4. Take 3 chains of white paper clips and use several black clips to link the chains across

from one another. Don’t connect the white chains end to end with the black clips. Pour

this new product through the funnel and record observations.

Phase 3.

1. Use an electronic balance and measure the mass of an empty graduated cylinder.

2. Measure 20 mL of sodium borate and 20 mL of polyvinyl alcohol into two graduated

cylinders. Pour each solution through a funnel into two separate beakers. Calculate the

mass and volume of each reactant.

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3. Record the mass of a third beaker. Pour the 20 mL of polyvinyl alcohol into the massed

beaker. Then, pour the 20 mL of sodium borate in and stir.

4. Record your observations. What happened when the chemicals mixed?

5. Calculate the density of the slime.

6. Finally, pass the slime through the funnel and record what happens.

Worksheets:

Figure 1: This is the reaction of polyvinyl alcohol and borate mixing to form slime.
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Figure 2: Comparison of slime at the molecular level with different amounts of reactants.

Analog Worksheet Pg (10-11):

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Designing Experiment: Different Proportions of the two reactants.

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Table 1. Mass, Volume, and Density of Various Substances Used in This Lab.:

Substance Mass (g) Volume (mL) Density (g / Observations

mL)

Water 30 30 1 Clear liquid.

Polyvinyl Alcohol 29.9 30 0.997 Went through the funnel

easily. Clear liquid.

Sodium Borate 29 30 0.967 Went through the funnel

easily. Clear liquid.

Slime 20.7 21 0.986 This was the mix of the

two reactants. Got stuck
in the funnel. Thick and
gel like substance.
Calculations:

Equation: Density = mass / volume (g/mL)

29.9 g Polyvinyl alcohol / 30 mL = 0.997 g/ mL

29 g sodium borate /30 mL = 0.967 g/mL

30 g water / 30mL = 1 g/mL

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Observations:

Phase 1:

In this trial, we did 20 mL of polyvinyl alcohol and 5 mL of sodium borate. When the

polyvinyl alcohol was poured down the funnel it went quickly down the beaker, leaving a little

trail of the substance behind in the beaker. As the sodium borate went down the funnel, it went

down very fast, a bit faster than the polyvinyl alcohol. When the sodium borate and polyvinyl

alcohol mixed it formed a Slime. This slime was a thick, gel like substance, and didn’t travel

through the funnel because it was very sticky and too thick to travel through the funnel.

Phase 2:

The white paper clips took longer to go down the funnel than the single black paper clip

did. However, they both went down through the funnel with ease. When the two sets of paper

clips were linked together and poured into the funnel, it got stuck and wouldn’t go down. It

represented the slime very well in this scenario.

Phase 3:

In the trial that we did, 20 mL of sodium borate and 20 mL of polyvinyl alcohol. We kept

it at a 1:1 ratio. Once these two substances were mixed and stirred for the same amount of time

as the previous trial, we found that more sodium borate doesn’t create a thicker slime. In this

scenario, there was a lot of excess solution left over in the beaker. It still wouldn’t go down the

funnel, but it wasn’t nearly as thick as the previous trial.

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III. Analysis of Evidence:

The goal of this experiment was to test how different amounts of the reactants would

affect the material formed. We designed our own experiment in phase 3 to see of changing

the ratio of the reactants how that would affect the slime. The hypothesis that we made was

that the more borate added would enhance the viscosity of the slime. Our experiment was at a

1:1 ratio. 20 mL of sodium borate and 20 mL of polyvinyl alcohol. We compared that

experiment to the given one which was 20 mL of polyvinyl alcohol and 5 mL of sodium

borate. During the given experiment, the slime that was produced was extremely thick and

sticky. The designed experiment’s slime wasn’t as thick and sticky. We concluded that the

more borate added didn’t increase the thickness of the slime. We spent the same time stirring

the substance, the only error possible was that we needed to give it a lot more time to thicken.

There was also excess solution left over in this ratio of reactants as well.

When there was less polyvinyl alcohol, the sodium borate did not have as much to link on

to and therefore would leave an excess solution behind. The more polyvinyl that was there, it

made more room for the sodium borate to bond along the chains of monomers. So, the more

polyvinyl alcohol, the higher the density. The analogy of the paper clips to reactants is a great

analogy. This is because the paper clips not linked together went right through the funnel

with ease. As did the reactants before they were mixed. Then, once the paper clips were

linked together it got stuck in the funnel, which is a resemblance of the slime getting stuck.

Our own experiment proved our hypothesis wrong. The data from our experiment suggests

that the less sodium borate mixed with polyvinyl alcohol would create a thicker slime.
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IV. Claims:

The claim that we can make is that when less sodium borate is mixed with polyvinyl

alcohol, the thicker the slime will be. From our own experiment, we added more borate to the

alcohol, and this caused the slime to have a lot of excess solution and wasn’t as thick. The

data from the first experiment furthers this claim. This is because there was less borate in that

solution, and this increased the viscosity of the substance as compared to the previous trial.

So, the conclusion made is that less borate and more polyvinyl alcohol will increase the

viscosity of the slime.