Super-Duper Polymer Gel - Chemical Demonstration Kit

By: Walter Rohr, Retired
Eastchester High School, Eastchester, NY


When a small amount of a white powder is sprinkled into a liquid and water is added, it transforms into a thick, viscous gel. When poured back and forth between two beakers, the gel begins to take on a life of its own and literally defies gravity by crawling up and out of the beaker.

This is a very cool demonstration! The chemical used is polyethylene oxide, a non-toxic, long-chain, water-soluble polymer. The length of all the polymer chains in one drop of gel is 1,700,000 miles long-long enough to go back and forth to the moon 7.5 times. This is fascinating stuff. Both you and your students will really enjoy this activity. Teacher Demonstration Notes included.

Concepts: Polymers, viscosity.
Time Required: 10 minutes
Chemical Provided: Polyethylene oxide, 25 grams.
Note: Ethanol or methanol (25 mL per demo) and water are needed but not provided.