Polymers - revisited
Isn’t it funny how you hear all about something AFTER you’ve finished studying about it. Kind of like when you think you’ve given your baby a unique name and then you start hearing it everywhere.
After GB and I finished his Chemistry course, we got emails from some Science groups and also saw specials on tv all about polymers. Of course, we HAD finished…… BUT (you knew there’d be a but, right?)….. these experiments looked like too much fun to pass up. Reinforcement baby!
This activity was from an email that I got from Home Science Tools:
Science Project: Make Scented Gel Air Fresheners
Polymers have numerous uses and have made our lives much more comfortable. One way is to help make your home smell fresh.
Materials:
Unflavored gelatin
Water
Fragrance oil
Food coloring
Table salt
Small jars
What To Do:
1. Boil one cup of water and stir in four packages of gelatin until dissolved. Remove from heat and add in one cup of cold water.
2. Add about 10 to 20 drops of the fragrance oil to the gelatin. If you would like, add a few drops of food coloring as well.
3. Add one tablespoon of salt to the gelatin mixture to keep mold from growing.
4. Carefully pour the gel into the small jars. Allow the gel to set either at room temperature or in the refrigerator.
5. Set them around your home and smell the fragrance coming from them.
What’s Happening?
Gel air fresheners are able to scent the air for a long time because gelatin is a polymer. Specifically, the polymer is collagen, a protein that forms a matrix-type structure, allowing the gelatin to hold its shape. The fragrance oil particles are suspended in the matrix of the gel, which keeps the scent trapped inside. As the gel evaporates, the scent particles are released from the matrix, causing a continuous scent to be released from the air freshener.
We figure these will make nice little gifts. See! Aren’t they cute?
That looks like fun!
Comment by
tribeofautodidacts — January 12, 2008 @ 1:56 pm
DS loves to experiment…he is our mad scientist. This would be very well received…plus, who wouldn’t love a handmade gift! Thanks for sharing and visiting me today, Robin.
Blessings,
Sarah
www.fairystitch.blogspot.com (the other me)
Comment by Sarah — January 12, 2008 @ 9:31 pm
Those would be great gifts! And, this is GREAT reinforcement for your chemistry studies.
Comment by Dana — January 14, 2008 @ 11:24 pm