K: ____ / ____

Junior High School Department

P: ____ / ____
CN: 5 SCIENCE
SY 2019-2020, Term 1st
U: ____ / ____
(OR GROUP NO)

EXPT. NO. 1 POLYMERIZATION NAME: Beatrice L. Cabauatan

DATE: August 27, 2019 SECTION A B C

INTRODUCTION:

Polymerization is a chemical reaction in which two or more small molecules combine to form larger
molecules that contain repeating structural units of the original molecules. Polymerization that occurs
through the coupling of monomers using their multiple bonds is called addition polymerization. The
simplest example involves the formation of polyethene or polyethylene from ethene or ethylene
molecules. Polyethylene is commonly used for plastic packaging and bottles. Slime is another product of
polymerization. It is commonly prepared by combining school glue, borax and water. Elmer’s Glue is
made up of polyvinyl acetate, which reacts with water to some extent to replace some of the acetate
groups with OH (alcohol) groups. The B-OH groups on the borax molecules react with the acetate
groups on the glue molecules (relatively long polymer chains) to eliminate acetic acid and form new
bonds between the borax and two glue molecules. The linking of two glue molecules via one borax
molecule is called polymer cross-linking and it makes a bigger polymer molecule, which is now less
liquid-like and more solid. This process produces non-biodegradable slime and like plastic bottles it can
pollute our water and land resources. Slime can be made biodegradable by replacing the school glue and
borax with natural ingredients.

OBJECTIVES:

1. To give an opportunity for the students to experience the process of making polymers
2. To produce biodegradable slime that can replace non-biodegradable slime
3. To utilize morphology graph in searching for the most appropriate set of materials to make
biodegradable slime

PROCEDURE:

1. Using a morphology chart, search for all the possible sets of materials that can be used to
produce biodegradable slime.
2. Decide on the characteristics of slime that the group wants to produce.
3. Select the most promising set of materials from the chart that will result to the desired
characteristics of slime. Encircle the options in the chart to come up with the combination.
4. Prepare all materials. Decide on the amount of each material that will be used to achieve the
chosen characteristics of slime.
5. Combine the main ingredients portion by portion until the desired result is reached.
6. Put additives to enhance the appearance of the slime.
7. Place the product inside a non-plastic container and submit it to your teacher.
MORPHOLOGY CHART

Attributes Options

Base Material 1 Rice Flour Bread Flour Cornstarch All-Purpose Cake Flour
(Type of Starch) Flour

Base Material 2 Cetaphil Softsoap Safeguard Dove Watsons

(Type of Soap)

Type of Coloring Food Crushed leaves Chalk Ink Watercolor

Material Coloring

Color/s Green Red/Pink Blue Yellow Purple

Additive/s Edible Edible Pearls Uncooked Rice Sunflower Lavander

Glitter Grains Seeds Essential Oil

Materials:
- 1 teaspoon of edible glitter (4g)
- 1/8 cup of colored chalk (16g)
- ¼ cup of water (59.15g)
- 1 ½ cups of All-Purpose Flour (192g)
- 2/3 cups of Cetaphil liquid bath soap (158g)
- 15 ml of Lavander Essential Oil (15g)

Procedure:
One and a half (1 ½) cups of flour were measured to serve as the base of the biodegradable. Other
materials were also measured according to the list of materials. The flour and soap were mixed in a
mixing bowl, until both materials were properly incorporated into each other. Sixteen (16) grams of
colored chalk was then crushed into a powder and was added into the soap-flour mixture. To give the
slime a smoother consistency, water was added two (2) tablespoons at a time, amounting to one fourth
(1/4) cup of water. Once the right consistency was achieved, four (4) grams of edible glitter and fifteen
(15) ml of Lavander essential oil were added. The slime was kneaded well, and, in the end, it gave a
stretchy and slightly resistant polymer.

Observations:
As more soap was added to the flour, the mixture became smoother and more homogenous. As water
was added, the mixture became smoother and stretchier, breaking less the farther it was stretched.

Conclusion:
To be able to create biodegradable slime, biodegradable alternatives for detergent and glue, such as
soap and natural starch should be used. To be able to create slime with the best consistency— where it
doesn’t break upon stretching or loses form as soon as it is touched, proportions of dry and wet
ingredients should be somewhat equal, considering the additives as well. The soap used should not be
too runny, or too thick, but this can be adjusted by adding water.
Questions:

1. How is polymer produced in this activity?

Polymer is produced in this activity when monomers in the rice flour and in the liquid bath soap
react together, undergoing polymerization to form a bigger polymer, which is slime.

2. How will you know if your product is biodegradable?

To know if my product is biodegradable, it should fit one of the following characteristics: soluble
in water, attracts bacteria and fungi to grow on it, shows signs of decomposing when exposed to
open air for a week or more.

3. What makes your product biodegradable?

This product is biodegradable because its ingredients are all biodegradable. The starch used,
which is APF is biodegradable, liquid bath soap is biodegradable, glitter, which is made of sugar,
is biodegradable, Lavander oil, which is natural makes it biodegradable, and lastly, chalk, is
biodegradable.