Insta-worms

Insta-worms

Students become polymer chemists who will make gelatinous worms.

Introduction

This activity uses sodium alginate, a polysaccharide polymer isolated from seaweed. Polysaccharides are polymers that are made by linking hundreds of glucose molecules. The monomer glucose is sweet and dissolves easily in water but the polymer of starch is not sweet and forms a thick, sticky paste in solution.

In this activity, the sodium alginate immediately changes from a liquid to a solid when it contacts the calcium chloride solution. The calcium (Ca++) ions replace the sodium (Na+) ions and link the polymer chains together — much like the rungs of a ladder link the two sides. The result is insoluble in the calcium chloride solution. The squishy stuff inside the ''worms'' is unreacted sodium alginate. If you leave the worm in the solution longer, more calcium ions will react and the worm's ''skin'' will get thicker.

Objectives

Students will be able to:

• Name some practical uses for polymers.
• Investigate the properties of common polymers.
• Describe in general terms what occurs during a polymerization reaction.

Entire Activity

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Other Resources

Full Lesson & other activities - Goo
Science World School Programs: Chemistry
Make a Virtual Polymer: http://pslc.ws/macrog/kidsmac/makepoly.htm