Sticky Slime

We all know slime is fun to play with—it's ooey, gooey, and sometimes makes hilarious fart noises! But did you know slime is also an AMAZING way to explore chemistry? It helps us understand the differences between liquids and solids—or, as scientists call them, the ‘states of matter.’ Let’s dive in and discover the science behind slime!

Before we get started, let's make some guesses about what might happen. Scientists like to make predictions, or hypotheses, before they do experiments. It helps them figure out what to expect and why things happen the way they do.

Have a go at making your best guess using the questions below:

1. What texture do you think the slime will be?
2. Will this change after we have played with the slime?

Tīmata! Let’s get started! 

• White School Glue (PVA or Elmers glue) - kāpia
• Baking Soda - pēkana houra
• Borax powder or Contact Lens Solution (must contain boric acid and sodium borate)
• Water - wai
• Food Colouring - kara kai (optional)
• Confetti, sprinkles or beads (optional) 

Let's begin!

1. Pour 1 cup of glue (kāpia) and ½ tsp of baking soda (pēkana houra) into a bowl and mix well.
2. If you want to add sprinkles, confetti, or food colouring (kara kai), now is the time! Add them in and mix thoroughly to spread the colour and decorations evenly.
3. Slowly add 2 tbsp of contact lens solution or ½ tsp of borax powder and stir until the slime starts to thicken.
4. Use your hands to knead and stretch the slime until it becomes firm. If your slime is too sticky, add a little more contact lens solution or borax—and voilà! Slime! (Store your slime in an airtight container to keep it from drying out.)
   

Extra for Experts!

• Try changing up your slime by adding glow-in-the-dark paint to make it glow or glitter to give it some sparkle!
• Experiment with different slime recipes—there are so many out there! Do some research, test a few and see which one you like best.

1. How did the feeling of the slime change from the start of the experiment to the end?
2. Can you think of other types of liquids that change how they flow when you push or shake them? (hint: some people like to have this sauce with hot chippies)
   

Slime is activated 

Slime starts as glue, which is made of tiny, wiggly chains called polymers. Normally, these chains can slide around easily, kind of like spaghetti noodles in a bowl! But when we add contact lens solution or borax powder (both types of activators), something cool happens—a special reaction called cross-linking. This makes the chains stick together, so they don’t move as easily. That’s why the glue thickens and turns into stretchy, squishy slime!

Slime is a super strange liquid

Most liquids, like water, always flow the same way no matter what you do. But slime is different! It’s a non-Newtonian fluid, which means it changes how it moves when you poke, squeeze, or stretch it.

• If you pull slime slowly, it stretches like a liquid.
• If you squish it fast, it feels more solid!
• When you stop touching it, it goes back to its oozy, gooey self!