Do you want to have more science in your life?  Of course you do and this is the link for you!  Check out the extra credit assignment below, follow the directions and show your work to your teacher when you are finished. 

Polymers and Plastics

Polymers are materials made of long chains of molecules.  Some are found in nature, such as plant fiber, and some can be manufactured (plastics).  How many times have you used something made plastic today?  Did you brush your hair or teeth?  Wear shoes or a polar fleece coat?  Ride in a car?  Think of a typical day and count all of the plastic things you used.  (hint: if you are reading this on a computer, you can add one more thing to your list.) 

After you record your list in your composition notebook, go to the link www.usborne-quicklinks.com.  Type in “science encyclopedia” into the book search at the top left.  Then click on Usborne Science Encyclopedia under “Internet-linked Reference Books.”  Enter page 101.  Answer the questions below from link 1:

1.      What are examples of polymers are found in nature?

2.    What are examples of polymers found in the home?

3.    Who was Leo Baekeland?  (click on his picture on the wall)

Last assignment: Make a polymer out of things you probably have in your kitchen. (Safety note: do not put any of these items in your mouth.  Classroom safety rules apply to home labs.)

Materials:

1 tablespoon water

1 teaspoon egg white

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 tablespoon citric acid (lemon juice).

Procedure:

1.      Mix 1 tablespoon water, 1 teaspoon egg white and 1 teaspoon baking soda in a cup.

2.    Mix above contents well.

3.    Sprinkle citric acid and swirl.

*The baking soda reacts with the citric acid and will produce bubbles of carbon dioxide, turning the mixture into foam.  When this occurs, the monomers in the egg white bond to form a polymer.  Take or draw a picture and add to your observations to your composition notebook.