Ask A Scientist Chemistry Archive

From:       cjervis
Text:       What is happening when we mix borax and Elmer's glue together?

Response #:  1 of 3
Author:      Robert Topper
Text:        cjervis sent me this description, which I thought you would like 
to see.  We see the borax becoming viscous.  It finally reaches a state where 
) it  is rubbery. With particular concentrations it forms a substance which 
has a fair amount of bounce, at other concentrations it seems almost liquid--
it flows VERY  S L O W L Y out of a container.  It seems to have a consistency 
of silly putty.  After drying out it crumbles.

Response #:  2 of 3
Author:      Joe Schultz
Text:        In the Teachers section of this board, 'virginia reid' talks 
about an experiment making silly putty using sodium borate and glue.  If she 
has got the recipe, then she may also have some background.  Her internet 
address is: VREID@NWRDC.WEDNET.EDU.

Response #:  3 of 3
Author:      unilever
Text:        This sounds a lot like the old chemistry demonstration of "making 
slime," which is actually a demonstration of the crosslinking of polymers with 
borate (I think).  That may be what is going on here.