Best Bounce
Materials
Per team: 1/2 Cup each of white glue, borax, corn starch, baking soda, measuring units like film containers or plastic spoons, paper cups and toothpicks.
Procedure
Set the stage: students are chemical engineers. They need to create a substance that bounces well, using only the ingredients at hand. Students need to keep track of their work and be able to tell others how to make their substance.
Distribute materials. Use paper cups and toothpicks for mixing.
Use the last 15 minutes for students to talk about how they came up with their substances and to test the product.
Extensions
Students can name and market the product in class.
Assign monetary values to materials used and determine the cheapest product to make that still has the necessary properties.
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