With this activity you will mix white craft glue and a borax solution together to produce a surprising new material: GOOP! Often when two substances are combined the properties of the substances change. A
physical or chemical reaction is taking place when this happens. White craft glue is a type of polymer called polyvinyl acetate. When the borax solution is added to the glue, the molecules of the borax bind up the glue "strands" so that the glue no longer flows freely. The properties of this new substance are unlike the original glue or borax solution. The "goop" behaves in an unusual way; it has some characteristics of a liquid and some characteristics of a solid. Goop may remind you of a well known commercial product called Silly Putty.

This activity will also provide the students an opportunity to create a chemical compound in a slow, gradual, and methodical way in order to determine a "preferred" mix.

• tablespoon of white craft glue
  
• craft stick (for stirring)
  
• 1 & 1/2 teaspoons of borax
  
• 2 paper cups
  
• pipette
• water
  
• measuring spoons
  
• clean-up materials -paper towels, warm water, detergent
  
• small sheet of plastic wrap or zipper top plastic bag (to store goop)
  

1. Pour 1 tablespoon of white glue into first paper cup. Add 1 tablespoon of water and stir with stick until mixed. Set aside.
   
2. In a second paper cup, mix 1 & 1/2 teaspoons of borax and 4 tablespoons of water. Stir well, then before borax settles to the bottom, use a tablespoon to scoop out ONLY one spoonful of the water and borax mixture.
   Pour into the cup that has the glue and water mixture.
   
3. Stir with stick. If mixture doesn't quickly form a gel, add
   another tablespoonful of the borax mixture and stir again.
   
4. Remove gel from cup and roll in your hands until substance firms up
   more.
   
5. Now it's ready to play with!
   
6. To save your goop, wrap it in plastic wrap or place it in a zipper top
   plastic bag. Wash your hands thoroughly after you put your goop away.
   

2. How are they arranged?

3. What happens when we combine the borax with the glue?