Poly-Ox

Product Description

This self-siphoning gel is also known as ‘anti-gravity’ liquid as it seems to defy gravity. Simply dissolve 2 g of the powder in iso-propyl alcohol or acetone and 200 ml water to form an extremely viscous, non-Newtonian fluid. This fluid has amazing properties! It will flow uphill against gravity and the entire glob will siphon itself into a lower beaker. You may dye it with food dye or a photo luminescent pigment and use with a UV source in the dark. Very spectacular.

The Science: Polyethylene oxide, with a molecular mass of 40 000 000 g/mole contains an oxygen as every third atom in the chain and therefor readily forms hydrogen bonds with water. The oxygen atoms each have two pairs of nonbonded "p" electrons that are readily available for hydrogen bonding and thus cause a highly flexible and water soluble gel with a huge molecular mass.

It is calculated that each droplet of Poly-Ox contains polymer chains to the length of 2,735,000 kilometres!   This is not a miss-print. Simply mind-boggling.

There is 50 g of powder in each pack and this will prepare 5 liters of Poly-Ox gel.

See the instructions & product information in the file below.
Teach: Polymers, hydrogen bonding, viscosity, non-Newtonian liquids
Age: 11+ with adult supervision