Chain Gang - The Chemistry of Polymers Book

 

Explore the versatility of plastics and other polymers that we use daily. This book is full of great lab activities for high school and middle school students. Some could also be done as demos for elementary students. Each lab activity is accompanied with in-depth explanations and extensions. Students will learn to identify different types of plastics and make several polymers, such as nylon, erasers, glue, slime and super balls. Students will investigate the properties of many polymers and experiment with a variety of materials to make the best products.

• 189 pages with 23 activities
• Grades 5 - 12
• Aligned to National Science Standards

Table Of Contents

• Contributors
• Principal Investigators
• Partners for Terrific Science Advisory Board
• Acknowledgments
• Foreword
• The Center for Chemical Education
• Partnership Network
• An Invitation to Industrial Chemists
• How to Use This Teacher Resource Module
• Employing Appropriate Safety Procedures
• Background for Teachers
• Overview of the Polymer Industry
• Quantum Chemical Corporation
• Content Review
• Using the Activities in the Classroom
• Pedagogical Strategies
• Annotated List of Activities and Demonstrations
• Curriculum Placement Guide
• Activities and Demonstrations
  • 1. Identification of Plastics
  • 2. The Rubber Band Stretch
  • 3. Needle through a Balloon
  • 4. The Stretch Test
  • 5. Water-Soluble Plastics
  • 6. Making a Polyester
  • 7. Nylon 6-10
  • 8. Making Polyvinyl Alcohol Fibers
  • 9. Comparison of Paper, Polyethylene, and Tyvek
  • 10. Producing Ethylene from Common Materials
  • 11. Making Rubber Bands
  • 12. Painting with Elastomers
  • 13. Making Erasers
  • 14. Glue Polymer
  • 15. Homemade ?Slimes?
  • 16. Making a Super Ball
  • 17. A Water-Absorbent Polymer
  • 18. Cellophane Tape Kaleidoscope
  • 19. Friendly Plastic
  • 20. Epoxy Putty
  • 21. The Amazing Shrinking Plastic
  • 22. Taking the Foam Out of Styrofoam
  • 23. Molding Plastics
• Addressing the National Standards