Silly Putty
In this experiment you will make your own homemade silly putty. By varying the
ratio of ingredients and by observing physical properties, you can determine the
best recipe for the putty.
Introduction
You might think that chemists are a bunch of boring scientists who wear lab coats
and look at beakers all day, but did you know that many toys you play with are
made using chemistry? Some of your favorite toys like Gak, Slime and Silly Putty
started out as chemistry experiments. In fact, some of your favorite toys may have
been invented by chemists who work for toy companies like: Crayola, Play-Doh or
Mattell.
Chemistry is the study of matter, and how different elements of matter interact.
There are many different kids of matter, which need to be described using the
concept of properties. Toys like silly putty are unique because of they have distinct
properties that are different from the properties of other types of matter. There are
two different kinds of properties, chemical properties and physical properties.
Chemical properties are qualities that can be observed during a chemical
reaction, like when vinegar reacts with baking soda. Physical properties are
qualities that can be observed during physical change in the absence of a
chemical reaction, like the melting of an ice cube. Physical properties can be used
to describe the state of a chemical, which can be a solid, liquid or a gas. The
physical and chemical properties of Silly Putty are what make it so much fun
because it is a polymer that is stretchy and bouncy!
Scientists use properties to describe all of the unique qualities of a chemical or a
mixture of chemicals. To do this they use descriptive language, or words that are
used to describe objects. Some descriptive words used to describe a chemical
might be: hot, cold, squishy, hard, soft, crystalline, granular, smooth, liquid, clear,
opaque, runny. There are many different qualities to be described. You just need
to find the right words to use.
The unique physical and chemical properties of a polymer or mixture can be
changed by the amount of each different ingredient used to make them.
Sometimes the amount of one ingredient compared to the amount of another
ingredient can make a big difference. This is called a ratio, and a ratio can be
useful to know how much of each ingredient to add to your mixture so you will end
up with a mixture that has desirable properties.
In this experiment you will change the ratio of two basic ingredients in homemade
Silly Putty. You will describe the physical properties of each different mixture using
a data table. Then you will choose the ratio of ingredients to create the best putty
product.
Terms, Concepts and Questions to Start Background Research
To do this type of experiment you should know what the following terms mean.
Have an adult help you search the internet, or take you to your local library to find
out more!
chemical
chemical property
physical property
solution
mixture
polymer
ratio
Materials and Equipment
Zip-lock baggie
water
Elmer's white school glue
Borax (also called 20-Mule Team household cleaner); See "Local Resources for
Purchasing Common Chemicals" on our Guide to Purchasing Chemicals page.
measuring cups and spoons
two recycled glass jars with a lid
permanent marker
Experimental Procedure
- First you will need to prepare solution #1, the 50% glue solution, which is made
up of half glue and half water.
- Add one cup of glue and one cup of water to one of the jars.
- Tightly secure the lid to the jar and shake until glue is fully diluted, and no gooey
clumps remain.
- Using a permanent marker, label this jar "Solution #1: 50% Glue".
- Next, you will make solution #2, the Borax solution, which is made up of 4%
Borax in water. Usually you would weigh the borax, but you can approximate this
solution by adding 2 tsp Borax to 1 cup of warm water to a jar.
- Tightly secure the lid to the jar and shake until no particles of Borax remain, and
the solution is clear.
- Using a permanent marker, label this jar "Solution #2: 4% Borax".
- Now we will add Solution #1 and Solution #2 together in different ratios, to see
what properties the final mixture will have. First we need to make a data table:
-For each mixture, first add the correct amount of Solution #1 (50% Glue) to a Zip-
lock baggie.
- Then add the corresponding amount of Solution #2 (4% Borax) to the baggie.
-Seal the baggie, and using your fingers squish the mixture around to mix together
the ingredients.
- Write down your observations in your data table.
- When the mixture begins to form a sticky glob, you can take it out of the baggie.
- Write down your description of the physical properties of the material in your
table. Remember to use words like runny, slimy, sticky, hard, soft, bouncy, etc�
- Which ratio of ingredients produced the best product? What will you call your new
product?
Credits
Sara Agee, Ph.D., Science Buddies
ratio of ingredients and by observing physical properties, you can determine the
best recipe for the putty.
Introduction
You might think that chemists are a bunch of boring scientists who wear lab coats
and look at beakers all day, but did you know that many toys you play with are
made using chemistry? Some of your favorite toys like Gak, Slime and Silly Putty
started out as chemistry experiments. In fact, some of your favorite toys may have
been invented by chemists who work for toy companies like: Crayola, Play-Doh or
Mattell.
Chemistry is the study of matter, and how different elements of matter interact.
There are many different kids of matter, which need to be described using the
concept of properties. Toys like silly putty are unique because of they have distinct
properties that are different from the properties of other types of matter. There are
two different kinds of properties, chemical properties and physical properties.
Chemical properties are qualities that can be observed during a chemical
reaction, like when vinegar reacts with baking soda. Physical properties are
qualities that can be observed during physical change in the absence of a
chemical reaction, like the melting of an ice cube. Physical properties can be used
to describe the state of a chemical, which can be a solid, liquid or a gas. The
physical and chemical properties of Silly Putty are what make it so much fun
because it is a polymer that is stretchy and bouncy!
Scientists use properties to describe all of the unique qualities of a chemical or a
mixture of chemicals. To do this they use descriptive language, or words that are
used to describe objects. Some descriptive words used to describe a chemical
might be: hot, cold, squishy, hard, soft, crystalline, granular, smooth, liquid, clear,
opaque, runny. There are many different qualities to be described. You just need
to find the right words to use.
The unique physical and chemical properties of a polymer or mixture can be
changed by the amount of each different ingredient used to make them.
Sometimes the amount of one ingredient compared to the amount of another
ingredient can make a big difference. This is called a ratio, and a ratio can be
useful to know how much of each ingredient to add to your mixture so you will end
up with a mixture that has desirable properties.
In this experiment you will change the ratio of two basic ingredients in homemade
Silly Putty. You will describe the physical properties of each different mixture using
a data table. Then you will choose the ratio of ingredients to create the best putty
product.
Terms, Concepts and Questions to Start Background Research
To do this type of experiment you should know what the following terms mean.
Have an adult help you search the internet, or take you to your local library to find
out more!
chemical
chemical property
physical property
solution
mixture
polymer
ratio
Materials and Equipment
Zip-lock baggie
water
Elmer's white school glue
Borax (also called 20-Mule Team household cleaner); See "Local Resources for
Purchasing Common Chemicals" on our Guide to Purchasing Chemicals page.
measuring cups and spoons
two recycled glass jars with a lid
permanent marker
Experimental Procedure
- First you will need to prepare solution #1, the 50% glue solution, which is made
up of half glue and half water.
- Add one cup of glue and one cup of water to one of the jars.
- Tightly secure the lid to the jar and shake until glue is fully diluted, and no gooey
clumps remain.
- Using a permanent marker, label this jar "Solution #1: 50% Glue".
- Next, you will make solution #2, the Borax solution, which is made up of 4%
Borax in water. Usually you would weigh the borax, but you can approximate this
solution by adding 2 tsp Borax to 1 cup of warm water to a jar.
- Tightly secure the lid to the jar and shake until no particles of Borax remain, and
the solution is clear.
- Using a permanent marker, label this jar "Solution #2: 4% Borax".
- Now we will add Solution #1 and Solution #2 together in different ratios, to see
what properties the final mixture will have. First we need to make a data table:
-For each mixture, first add the correct amount of Solution #1 (50% Glue) to a Zip-
lock baggie.
- Then add the corresponding amount of Solution #2 (4% Borax) to the baggie.
-Seal the baggie, and using your fingers squish the mixture around to mix together
the ingredients.
- Write down your observations in your data table.
- When the mixture begins to form a sticky glob, you can take it out of the baggie.
- Write down your description of the physical properties of the material in your
table. Remember to use words like runny, slimy, sticky, hard, soft, bouncy, etc�
- Which ratio of ingredients produced the best product? What will you call your new
product?
Credits
Sara Agee, Ph.D., Science Buddies
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