MBCI Chemistry 30S Project
MAD MATTER GROUP PROJECT Chemistry 30S Why is a raven like a
writing desk? And
why is this pudding
like a rubber ball?
“How can you make a ball that is both liquid and solid?” “What is the best recipe and procedure to make the most dramatic Mad Matter, using only non-­‐‑toxic ingredients?” This is a group project in which students work together in groups of two or three to create a substance (Mad Matter) with unique properties. The substance will be able to easily shift back and forth between liquid and solid at room temperatures, and be able to bounce off a hard surface like a rubber ball. A recipe to make such a substance is provided, however, each group will select its own brand of supplies, experiment and test different variations of the ratios involved, and experiment with the addition of one [non-­‐‑toxic] secret ingredient. In this way each group will chemically engineer their own unique MAD MATTER. The group that produces a product that has the greatest Number of bounces, and the fastest liquefying time will earn the right to be called MAD MATTER MASTERS! Your mission is to answer the initial questions. To do so you will walk through the following stages: (i) Orientation to project DATE:___Sept 15th (ii) Research DATE: Sept 21th (iii) Make MAD MATTER 1.0 using the recipe provided (iv) Experiment to discover a relationship of value to the project (v) Experiment Review & Gallery Walk DATE: Oct 18th (vi) Make an new and improved MAD MATTER 2.0 (vii) Present your best product GAME DAY DATE: Oct 26th (vi) Submit a reflection documenting your process. DATE: Oct 28th MAD MATTER PROJECT Page 1 of 15
MBCI Chemistry 30S Project
MAD MATTER PROJECT Page 2 of 15
MBCI Chemistry 30S Project
You will use this
DESIGN PROCESS to come up with your final product.
I. DEFINE THE PROBLEM:
REMEMBER THE GOAL:
To create a substance that can bounce like a solid ball, and spread out like a liquid. You
want to create the most dramatic Mad Matter using only non-toxic ingredients.
Here is the list of the key limitations:
1. 2. 3. 4. It must be a SMALL SUBSTANCE: <100.00 grams in mass total as measured by an
electronic scale.
It must be SAFE:
A. Made with borax & white glue as the primary ingredients.
B. It may involve other ingredients, as long as those ingredients are not classified as
toxic.
C. It must be safe for children aged 6-16.
It must be able to bounce numerous times in succession, when dropped from the ceiling
onto a smooth, clean, hard floor.
It must be able to liquefy and spread out to cover the area of a CD or DVD.
iI. INCREASE UNDERSTANDING: information & inspiration
Research using terms like ‘silly putty’, ‘how to make flubber’, ‘borax glue polymer’, ‘how to make
slime’, or even ‘GAK’. Note what catches your eye, the factors that make it work, and details of
construction. You may even wish to watch some videos of people making slime or putty.
Pay attention to the various variables (factors) involved.
Below are list of sites you may wish to investigate:
-The American Chemical Society: http://acswebcontent.acs.org/swf/bouncing_ball.html or
https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/whatischemistry/adventures-inchemistry/experiments/slime.html
-Steve Spangler Science: http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/lab/experiments/glue-borax-gak/
-http://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/how-to-make-borax-slime-easy/
-Science Bob: https://sciencebob.com/make-your-own-bouncy-ball/
-Instructables~see what you can make: http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-GOOPout-of-Borax-and-Glue/
-PINTREST
-Scientific American: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/bring-science-home-playing-withpolymers/
- http://www.sci-experiments.com/slime/slime.html
-and many others…. You may also wish to watch some instructional ‘how to’ videos on YouTube.
To gain a more tactile sense of the information, and get an inspired ‘feel’ for the factors involved
you may wish to start playing around and make a sample. See the following page for a detailed
‘starter’ recipe.
MAD MATTER PROJECT Page 3 of 15
MBCI Chemistry 30S Project
iI. INCREASE UNDERSTANDING: information & inspiration (continued) Making MAD MATTER Version 1.0:
Using the recipe below, gather the needed supplies. Select the type of white
glue you wish to use [non-toxic], and make sure to use BORAX detergent. Follow the
instructions carefully. While doing it is important to wear your safety goggles, and work in
an area that is able to get messy. You may wish to cover your work station with some
news paper to protect the surface from glue or detergent spills. Always use common
sense and take extra care as you pour and measure out ingredients.
Be sure to record your efforts, any problem solving skills you used safety
precautions you took [such as always wearing your safety goggles], and level of
cleanliness in your journal.
MAD MATTER Version 1.0 recipe
Materials:
Safety goggles for every group member
White Glue
(you could try any white glue, some are better than others, you’ll need to
research & experiment J)
Each type of white glue has slightly different properties.
Borax detergent [See attached portion of MSDS for safety descriptions]
Water
3 Plastic cups
Measuring tools
Popsicle stick
Food colouring [optional]
Zip lock bag [optional]
Paper towel for clean up
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. Label your three plastic cups, A, B, & C and put on safety goggles.
Make a saturated Borax solution by pouring Borax into a container with water, until the Borax
will no longer dissolve, even after 3 min of stirring.
Put [1 portion] of white glue in a plastic cup A
Put [1 portion] of water (tap water works fine) in plastic cup B
Put [1 portion] of a saturated Borax solution in plastic cup C. [pure liquid only]
Pour the water in B into the glue in A and mix well with a wooden Popsicle stick.
Pour the contents of A [with the diluted white glue] into the Borax solution in cup C, while
stirring. A new substance will form around your stir stick.
Record qualitative observations.
Stir the mixture well, until it becomes sticky and gummy, like putty. Record qualitative
observations.
[OPTIONAL] You may add a single drop of food colouring if you like to colour it if you like.
Dump the mixture in cup C onto your table, remove the excess water, then roll it in your
hands. Stretch it, bounce it. Then let is sit on the table and watch what happens. Have fun
but keep good lab decorum. Record qualitative observations.
[OPTIONAL] Store the putty in a zip-lock bag to prevent drying out, putting your name on it.
Clean up all mess, and leave the area as clean, or cleaner than you found it.
You may wish to re-do this trial with hot tap water, then cold ice water to observe the effect of
temperature on the reaction product.
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MBCI Chemistry 30S Project
iI. INCREASE UNDERSTANDING: finding patterns
Based on your information and inspirations, pick one variable that you believe is very significant
to making the best ‘mad matter’. Ideally, every group will choose a different variable so that the
class as a whole can gain as much knowledge of as many of the variables involved as possible.
Input variables could include:
a) Type of white glue used
b) Ratio of white glue to water
c) Temperature of water used during the mixing process
d) Speed of stirring used during the mixing process
e) Air drying time prior to testing
f) Addition of other non-toxic solvents (instead of water)
g) Addition of corn-starch as a ‘thickening’ agent
h) Addition of ‘thickening’ agents other than corn-starch
i) Length of time till testing & mode of storage… zip lock, zip lock in
fridge…ect
Output variables would be:
a) the number of bounces
b) the time it takes for the substance to liquefy and cover the area of a
CD of DVD
Control variables would be anything that was NOT an input or output variable,
especially:
a) the mass of the substance tested
b) the location of testing (same height, same floor)
c) order of the tests (bounce test then liquefy test)
(i) Design and conduct an experiment with your input variable, where you control all the other
variables and using an initial recipe, change that one variable. Here you will follow the
scientific method. Do your experiment. Record all your observations in a well organized
data chart. Make sure to do at least 3 ‘TESTS’ of BOTH the bounce test & the liquefaction
test, to get a reliable sense of how well it actually behaves.
Repeat changing the input variable slightly. This would be a new ‘TRIAL’
Repeat until you have 7 trials involving that variable. Remember to test each trial 3 times per
trial. Follow safety procedures, always wear goggles, and clean up spills.
Once you are all done get your mom/dad/guardian to write a note on the supplied form,
indicating how well you cleaned up after yourselves. Your parents should NOT have to do any clean up
after you. You need to leave things as clean as, if not cleaner than, you found them. See parental
verification of safety & cleanliness sheet.
Find 2+ ways to visually illustrate your results so that the pattern of the variables
effect can become clear. State your conclusion of the relationship between your
input variable and the ability of the product to bounce and liquefy.
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MBCI Chemistry 30S Project
(ii) Prepare to share your experiment clearly in easy an easy to read font size
and format on a LARGE (36”X48”) tri-fold display board. Publically display your experiment
all of its results, in class, during the Experiment gallery walk.
(iii)
Experiment gallery walk and peer review: Study the experiments of others to decide if their
conclusions are really valid or not, and if so discern, what is the best combination of all the
variables to produce the most amazing MAD MATTER.
Note: If the average of the mark of the classes GALLERY WALK
is 50 marks out of the 55 marks, then every individual in class will be
EXCUSED FROM PROVIDING PHOTOS and IN-DEPTH EXPLANATIONS on
their individual REFLECTIONS J
If we help each other do a good job on the experiment & gallery walk,
we all won’t get MADder!
Life will be easier!
J
MAD MATTER PROJECT Page 6 of 15
MBCI Chemistry 30S Project
iiI. Generate conceptS: POSSIBLE MAD MATTER 2.0 Chemical Engineers Names: ___________________, ______________________, __________________________ Problem to address : Design a product that could have the greatest number of bounces,
while being the fastest to liquefy .
Brainstorm Solutions: {Note: You may have more than 4 ideas, but you must at least have 3}
Idea 1
RECIPE:
• • • • • • • • • • • NAME:
Idea 2
Type(brand) of white glue:
Ratio of white glue to water:
Ratio of diluted glue to saturated borax solution:
Temperature of the water used to dilute the glue and
saturated borax solution:
Type of solvent:
‘Secret’ ingredient:
Amount of secret ingredient:
Speed of mixing:
Make time prior to game day:
Means of storage
Other…
RECIPE:
• • • • • • • • • • • NAME:
SLOGAN:
SLOGAN:
Idea 3
Idea 4
RECIPE:
• • • • • • • • • • • NAME:
SLOGAN:
Type(brand) of white glue:
Ratio of white glue to water:
Ratio of diluted glue to saturated borax solution:
Temperature of the water used to dilute the glue and
saturated borax solution:
Type of solvent:
‘Secret’ ingredient:
Amount of secret ingredient:
Speed of mixing:
Make time prior to game day:
Means of storage:
Other…
RECIPE:
• • • • • • • • • • • NAME:
Type(brand) of white glue:
Ratio of white glue to water:
Ratio of diluted glue to saturated borax solution:
Temperature of the water used to dilute the glue and
saturated borax solution:
Type of solvent:
‘Secret’ ingredient:
Amount of secret ingredient:
Speed of mixing:
Make time prior to game day:
Means of storage:
Other…
Type(brand) of white glue:
Ratio of white glue to water:
Ratio of diluted glue to saturated borax solution:
Temperature of the water used to dilute the glue and
saturated borax solution:
Type of solvent:
‘Secret’ ingredient:
Amount of secret ingredient:
Speed of mixing:
Make time prior to game day:
Means of storage:
Other…
SLOGAN:
MAD MATTER PROJECT Page 7 of 15
MBCI Chemistry 30S Project
iiI. Concept SELECTION: MAKING MAD MATTER 2.0 The IDEA that we chose was:
________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
…Because________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Resources that we will need:
What it is
Why we need it
Who is responsible to get it
Sketch your Logo & Advertisement Design:
MAD MATTER PROJECT Page 8 of 15
MBCI Chemistry 30S Project
iV. DESIGN REALIZATION: MAKING MAD MATTER 2.0 create
Create your new version of mad matter 2.0.
tESt
Test 100g of it.
- Do a bounce test of 3m onto a clean, dry, hard, surface. Repeat till you have at least 3 tests.
- Do a liquefaction test timing how long it takes to spread out to cover the area of a CD or DVD on a
smooth sheet of aluminium foil (as it will be done in class).
REfIne
Are you happy with its performance? How could it be better? What could you do differently to get a
better result? Use all the critical thinking and knowledge you’ve gained up to this point in the
process.
create
refine
test
fInal design
Continue the CREATE-TEST-REFINE cycle over and over until you feel you have a product you are
really happy with. This will then be your ‘preferred product’.
You will make a ~60 s sales pitch that MUST INCLUDE the following:
o It must be between 50 and 70s, you must mention the product name,
o you must have a catchy slogan that ‘sells’ your product- this slogan must be repeated
several times throughout the pitch,
o special features,
o it must be interesting,
o cleverly scripted, if its all memorized that will be bonus. J
After the sales pitch you will demonstrate its bounce & viscosity time abilities, using a 100.0g (max)
sample. You may present less (but that’ll slow your viscosity time) but you may not present more.
Demonstrate your preferred product on 'GAME DAY'.
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MBCI Chemistry 30S Project
v. REflect
Submit an INDIVIDUAL reflection of your progress throughout the project, using the template
For each of the following questions, write 3-4 complete sentences. Write THOUTGHTFUL answers.
Include specific details about methodology, the recipe, how you followed the design process.
“It was good because it worked” is not a quality answer!
This is worth 20 communication points.
1. How may times did you go through the create-test-refine cycle? What did you learn through
each iteration? Use labelled photos in your answer.
2. What were the weaknesses of your design? Why? Use labelled photos in your answer.
3. Was your design a success compared to your expectations? Compared to other products? Explain
in detail. (Remember – you need 3-4 sentences, not jus “Yes” or “no”)
4. What did you learn about conducting a valid experiment and gathering significant amounts of
usable data? Use labelled photos in your answer.
5. What would you change about the way your GROUP worked on this challenge and why?
6. What would you change about the way YOU worked on this challenge and why?
The reflection will be marked based on the following three criteria: § Readability. The correct use of grammar & punctuation § Level of insight/awareness § Level of detail and elaboration included On a scale of High (3), Moderate (2), or Low (1) for each question.
MAD MATTER PROJECT Page 10 of 15
MBCI Chemistry 30S Project
Portion of MSDS information on BORAX
Although Borax is a natural product the following guidelines should be followed: § Do NOT allow borax to become mixed with food or beverages. § Keep away from small children. Section 3: Hazards Identification Potential Acute Health Effects: Slightly hazardous in case of skin contact (irritant), of eye contact (irritant), of ingestion, of inhalation. Potential Chronic Health Effects: CARCINOGENIC EFFECTS: Not available. MUTAGENIC EFFECTS: Not available. TERATOGENIC EFFECTS: Not available. DEVELOPMENTAL TOXICITY: Not available. Repeated or prolonged exposure is not known to aggravate medical condition. Section 4: First Aid Measures Eye Contact: Check for and remove any contact lenses. In case of contact, immediately flush eyes with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes. Cold water may be used. Get medical attention if irritation occurs. Skin Contact: Wash with soap and water. Cover the irritated skin with an emollient. Get medical attention if irritation develops. Cold water may be used. Serious Skin Contact: Not available. Inhalation: If inhaled, remove to fresh air. If breathing is difficult, give oxygen. Get medical attention. If not breathing, give artificial respiration. Get medical attention. Serious Inhalation: Not available. Ingestion: Do NOT induce vomiting unless directed to do so by medical personnel. Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person. If large quantities of this material are swallowed, call a physician immediately. Loosen tight clothing such as a collar, tie, belt or waistband. Serious Ingestion: Not available. For a more comprehensive MSDS see the following website: http://www.borax.com/pdfs/dist/MSDS_Borax_Decahydrate.pdf MAD MATTER PROJECT Page 11 of 15
MBCI Chemistry 30S Project
Parental Evaluation of
Safety & Cleanliness
Project Behaviour
Name of students in group:___________________________________
:___________________________________
:___________________________________
The students are responsible for the complete clean-up of all their experimentation, and
supplies. They are to treat their work areas with respect, and to ensure that no damage is
done.
Dear Parent,
Thank you for allowing the students to work on their group project in your home.
Please check the ONE option below that most closely describes the students safety and
cleanliness.
I was completely impressed with the way they took care of things and cleaned up after themselves. They left
things as clean or cleaner than they found them.
The students consistently worked safely & cleaned up.
The students worked safely, but I had to do some to do a little bet of extra tidying once they were done.
There was the occasional mess I had to clean up, and or they DID unsafe things.
The students clean up was SADLY NOT adequate and or they DID unsafe things.
Parent’s full name (please print) :________________________
Parent’s signature
:________________________
Date
:____________
Additional (optional) Comments:
MAD MATTER PROJECT Page 12 of 15
MBCI Chemistry 30S Project
Experiment Gallery Walk & Review
RUBRIC
Chemistry 30S
Names of students in group:______________________________________________________
Sec:___Date:_________Name of product:____________________
Students presented their experiment results on a large (48”x36”) tri-fold display board
(This is an all or nothing mark)
[ /5 marks]
The display was:
(i) attractive, (ii) neat, (iii) easy to read, and (iv) well organized (v) actual colour photos
(nicely; cut, squared & glued) (16+ font size)
(flow from left to right)
[ /10 marks]
PURPOSE: Did they have a clear purpose question?
[ /2 marks]
HYPOTHESIS: Did they have a hypothesis that answered the purpose question?[ /2mark]
METHOD: How effective was their experiment design & procedure?
[
/13 marks]
Input, Output, & Control variables (3 marks)
Materials & Safety precautions
(2 marks)
Step by step instructions with what is to be done with each input variable trail (out of 5 marks)
Level of complexity of method, Amount of data evaluated were the values fluctuate over throughout the trials
<56, 56, 56-112, 112-224, >224 (out of 3 marks)
1mk 2mk 3mk
4mk
5mk
QUANTITATE DATA
[ /11 marks]
Labelled columns and rows, Units, Sig. Figs, 3 tests & AVG per TRIAL (4 marks)
Had 7 different TRAILS of the input variable
(7 marks)
QUALITATIVE OBSERVATIONS: presented condensed observations
[ /2 marks]
ANALYSIS
Quality of 2 visual illustrations/graphs: one for # of bounces, one for viscosity time
(high, med., low)
(high, med., low)
[ /6 marks]
CONCLUSION
[ /4 marks]
Summarized their results. (2 marks)
Stated which set of variables produced the BEST combination (2 marks) of bouncing & liquefying.
CLEANLINESS
Signed Sheet with a parent’s evaluation of the level of cleanliness of the group.
[ /4 marks]
{This is due on gallery walk day.}
MARK REPLACEMENT: Did they presented ALL actual samples of their various tests?
MARK REPLACEMENT: Did their tri-fold look especially creative or professional?
MAD MATTER PROJECT Page 13 of 15
/+1
/+1
MBCI Chemistry 30S Project
MAD MATTER GROUP PROJECT Chemistry 30S Print names of all group members: ____________________________
____________________________
Sec : ___
GROUP MAD MATTER presentation
Made with only “non-toxic” or “slightly hazardous” ingredients?
[If “no” then the product is disqualified from the GAME DAY RESULTS]
Quality of ~60 s sales pitch to sell product…
/5
~60s, product name, slogan, special features, interesting, clearly scripted, presented – no notes
½ ½ ½ 1 1 1 ½
SPECIAL DESIGN FEATURES:
Level of effectiveness in design interplay between actual product features and promotion
/5
GROUP GAME DAY RESULTS:
Use the same sample amount to do BOTH the bounce test & viscosity test.
BOUNCE TEST
# bounces from ceiling: 1,
2,
3,
4,
5 , ___more is better +1mk per extra bounce
6mks 10mks 13mks 15mks 16mks [16 + (_____-4)*1] mks
/16
VISCOUSITY TEST time it takes to spread out to cover the area of a CD.
Viscosity time : >10 min, <10min, <8min, <6min, <4 min, <3 min, <2 min, <1min
4mks
6mks 12mks 16 mks 20mks 21mks
23mks 26mk
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MBCI Chemistry 30S Project
MAD MATTER GROUP PROJECT Chemistry 30S Print names of individual member: ____________________________
Sec : ___
INDIVIDUAL PERSONAL REFLECTION (Due the class after game day)
Submitted in well labelled slim folder, {Title, Group Names, Class & Sec}
/2 Has Title page with title, Group member’s names, class & sec, teacher, date
/18
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. How may times did you go through the create-test-refine cycle? What did you learn through each iteration? Use labelled
photos in your answer.
What were the weaknesses of your design? Why? Use labelled photos in your answer.
Was your design a success compared to your expectations? Compared to other products? Explain in detail. (Remember – you
need 3-4 sentences, not jus “Yes” or “no”)
What did you learn about conducting a valid experiment and gathering significant amounts of usable data?
What would you change about the way your GROUP worked on this challenge and why?
What would you change about the way YOU worked on this challenge and why?
§ Readability. The correct use of grammar & punctuation § Level of insight/awareness § Level of detail and elaboration included
On a scale of High (3), Moderate (2), or Low (1) for each question.
MAD MATTER PROJECT Page 15 of 15