In class today we did a guided experiment with sodium polyacrylate and water. Each table was given a cup with 1 gram of sodium polyacrylate and had to add water to it and stir. After stirring, my group's mixture became a gel like substance. Each group was told to try to come up with a hypothesis about why we thought the mixture reacted the way it did. When all the groups shared their predictions, we took notes to help us better understand how the experiment worked and to gain background information about the chemical. After notes, each group had to find out how many milliliters it takes to make the sodium polyacrylate mixture extremely liquid like. My group found that it took 600 ml. Other groups found that theirs took anywhere from 500 ml to 1200 ml. Afterwards, each group was able to dry to make the mixture with different liquids like Gatorade or milk. My group ended up trying Gatorade, which worked, but not as well as with water. Groups that tried milk or glue ended up not getting very good results because we found out that the sodium polyacrylate only absorbs water.
Looking Back:
My group's experiment ended up turning out really well. It also ended up working too because it turned out similar to gel, like it was supposed to. The mixture kind of looked like small pieces of cut up Jello. It also reminded me of what the toy Orbees looked like when someone squishes them. During the experiment we learned that the mixture is what many people use for fake snow, which it looked exactly like.
Looking Beyond:
When we took notes, we learned about why the molecules in the sodium polyacrylate acted the way they did with water. The reason behind it was that solvants, like water, like to go to areas of higher solute concentration, like sodium. Therefore the sodium polyacrylate molecules expand and the water absorbs into them. During the experiment, I was wondering if the mixture was left outside, if the water would evaporate, leaving leftover sodium instead. I was also wondering if we left out the mixture with Gatorade or milk would leave the sodium polyacrylate along with remnants of whatever was in the liquid. Lastly, i made me wonder if people use sodium polyacrylate to make the decorations in vases for flowers that absorb water and create certain shapes.
Looking Inward:
Overall, I think my group and I got desirable results with our experiment. In order to get these results, I helped contribute to the group's efforts. During the experiment I helped stir our mixture to help get it to become the gel like substance we wanted. I also helped by adding ideas about why the sodium polyacrylate and water reacted the way they did. I did not help document the experiment this time through photos and videos because our group already had several people doing that.
Looking Outward:
During the experiment, I worked with Zoe, Monique, Sophie, Rebekah, and Fatuma. Our group performed really well because we all work together well. We've also worked together in the past so we all know pretty well how each other works. To help the group, I contributed a little, like mixing the ingredients of our mixture together. Since there was six of us, there wasn't as much to do since we all split the work equally.
Looking Forward:
If I could do this experiment again, I would like to try mixing the sodium polyacrylate with other liquids besides just water and Gatorade. I would like to try it with juice because no one in my class tried making the mixture with juice. If I was organizing a group for the next lab activity, i would probably choose some of the same people to work with. I would like to work maybe with a smaller group next time because six people seemed like a lot. Maybe next time I would also like to also try to work with some other people too. I see a way to continue this experiment. It would probably be about testing different liquids to see how much water liquid needs in order to make the mixture slightly as successful as when you use regular water.
Overall, I found this experiment really fun and interesting. I learned a lot more about how certain molecules react and how solvants and solutes react with each other.
Looking Back:
My group's experiment ended up turning out really well. It also ended up working too because it turned out similar to gel, like it was supposed to. The mixture kind of looked like small pieces of cut up Jello. It also reminded me of what the toy Orbees looked like when someone squishes them. During the experiment we learned that the mixture is what many people use for fake snow, which it looked exactly like.
Looking Beyond:
When we took notes, we learned about why the molecules in the sodium polyacrylate acted the way they did with water. The reason behind it was that solvants, like water, like to go to areas of higher solute concentration, like sodium. Therefore the sodium polyacrylate molecules expand and the water absorbs into them. During the experiment, I was wondering if the mixture was left outside, if the water would evaporate, leaving leftover sodium instead. I was also wondering if we left out the mixture with Gatorade or milk would leave the sodium polyacrylate along with remnants of whatever was in the liquid. Lastly, i made me wonder if people use sodium polyacrylate to make the decorations in vases for flowers that absorb water and create certain shapes.
Looking Inward:
Overall, I think my group and I got desirable results with our experiment. In order to get these results, I helped contribute to the group's efforts. During the experiment I helped stir our mixture to help get it to become the gel like substance we wanted. I also helped by adding ideas about why the sodium polyacrylate and water reacted the way they did. I did not help document the experiment this time through photos and videos because our group already had several people doing that.
Looking Outward:
During the experiment, I worked with Zoe, Monique, Sophie, Rebekah, and Fatuma. Our group performed really well because we all work together well. We've also worked together in the past so we all know pretty well how each other works. To help the group, I contributed a little, like mixing the ingredients of our mixture together. Since there was six of us, there wasn't as much to do since we all split the work equally.
Looking Forward:
If I could do this experiment again, I would like to try mixing the sodium polyacrylate with other liquids besides just water and Gatorade. I would like to try it with juice because no one in my class tried making the mixture with juice. If I was organizing a group for the next lab activity, i would probably choose some of the same people to work with. I would like to work maybe with a smaller group next time because six people seemed like a lot. Maybe next time I would also like to also try to work with some other people too. I see a way to continue this experiment. It would probably be about testing different liquids to see how much water liquid needs in order to make the mixture slightly as successful as when you use regular water.
Overall, I found this experiment really fun and interesting. I learned a lot more about how certain molecules react and how solvants and solutes react with each other.