Properties of a Natural Polymer: Stress Versus Strain—ChemTopic™ Lab Activity

Natural rubber is an elastic polymer obtained from the inner bark of tropical plants. With the Properties of a Natural Polymer: Stress Versus Strain—ChemTopic™ Lab Activity, investigate the mechanical and elastic properties of natural rubber by suspending a rubber band from a hook and adding increasing amounts weights to it then measuring a cross-sectional area’s width and thickness to calculate the stress and strain.