Name _______________________
Period ________ Points _________ / 20
Lab: Slime
We know there are ________ states of matter; solid, liquid, gas, plasma, and BEC. However, some substances don’t
exactly fall into one of these categories. Think about it; what is silly putty? It feels solid, can be rolled into a ball
and bounced, but when left out on a flat surface it will flow and spread out like a fluid. There are several
different names for these weird substances:

non-_______________________ Fluid: viscosity changes with force (acts odd when you touch it)
o

Examples: blood plasma, Ketchup, Silly Putty, quicksand… SLIME!
Visco-elastic materials: possess both viscous (fluid-like) and elastic (solid-like) properties
o
Examples: _____________________ (corn starch & water), memory foam, toothpaste

_________________________: a microscopic mixture (one tiny substance is spread out in another)
o Examples: whipped cream, fog, smoke, aerogel, gelatin, etc.

_________________________: a liquid colloid (two unblendable liquids are mixed together)
o Examples: milk, mayonnaise, vinaigrettes
Materials: water, glue, food coloring, Borax, Ziploc bag, graduated cylinders, beakers, stir rod
Procedures: Check off each step. Each person makes their own slime, but only two/group at a time.
Part 1
______ 1. Clean all materials thoroughly. There is enough for
each group to make 2 Slime Bags at a time.
Part 1 Observations
______ 2. Measure 20mL of glue in the 100 mL beaker.
______ 3. Measure 20mL of water in a 25 mL graduated
cylinder.
______ 4. Add the water to the glue in the beaker & mix with a
stir rod.
______ 5. Add both to a small Ziploc bag.
______ 6. Get 2 drops of food coloring from your teacher.
______ 7. Seal bag (double check & make sure it is closed).
______ 8. Gently knead bag until mixed & record observations.
Part 2
______ 9. Measure 20 mL water in the graduated cylinder.
______ 10. Measure 15 mL borax (white powder) in the small
50 mL beaker.
______ 11. Add the water to the borax & stir until mostly
combined.
______ 12. Immediately, add both to the bag & seal completely.
______ 13. Mix until there is no liquid (be careful not to break
the bag). Record observations.
Part 2 Observations
______ 14. CLEAN UP EVERYTHING!!!! When you are done cleaning your desk/station raise your hand to get a
stamp:
Playing with Slime (2 points each)
1. Press your slime into a ball. Let it sit on your table for a couple of minutes. What do you notice? Why?
____________________________________________________________________________________________
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2. Put a small object like a paperclip on the slime. Let it sit for a while. What happens? Why?
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3. Is your slime bouncy? Try bouncing it at your desk. What do you notice? Why does it act this way?
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4. Is your slime stretchy? Why do you think it acts this way?
____________________________________________________________________________________________
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Conclusion (2 points each)
5. What is viscosity? ____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
6. When pressure was not applied (when the Slime sat on the desk), it behaved like a __________________________
because the molecules were able to _________________________________________________________. When pressure was
applied (when you pushed or placed something on it), it behaved like a _________________________ because the
molecules were able to ________________________________.
7. How is your slime different from Oobleck? ________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
8. Explain why Slime is classified as a non-Newtonian fluid. ____________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
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9. Compare/contrast Slime (a non-Newtonian fluid) to Jello (a colloid) to Ice Cream (an emulsion).
____________________________________________________________________________________________
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10. State whether each is an element, compound, mixture, colloid, suspension, or solution.
_______________ COPPER
_______________ DRY ICE
_______________ JELLO
_______________ TRAIL MIX
_______________ WATER
_______________ CO2
_______________ SNOW GLOBE
_______________ MAGNESIUM
_______________ ZINC
_______________ BLOOD
_______________ SALAD
_______________ PIZZA