Polymer Gel

Carlos Molina Luna
November 27, 2012
p.4
POLYMER GELS

Purpose: To use a superabsorbent polymer gel to investigate the effect of different solids on the polymer.

Hypothesis: If ionic andcovalent solids are combined with an ionic polymer get, then the ionic solids will react with the polymergel.


Materials:
• Potassium polyacrylate powder
• Plastic cup
• Graduatedcylinder
• Distilled water
• Spoon
• Wax paper
• Well plate
• ½ tsp (3ml) of the following:
1. Calcium choloride-CaCl2
2. Sugar-C12 H22O113. Sodium Chloride- NaCl
4. Magnesium sulfate-MgSO4
5. Splenda sweetner- C12H19Cl3O8
6. Sodium Carbonate- Na2CO3


Procedure:a) Obtain a tsp (teaspoon) of polymer powder and a plastic cup from the instructor.
b) Add 40mL od distilled water to the powder and stir with the spoon. Observe/ record appearance.
c) Add40ML more od distilled water, stir. Add another 40mL of distilled water; stir.
d) Scoop the mixture onto a piece of waxed paper. Divide the mixture into 6 equally sized mounds. Move the mounds ontoso they are at least 3-4 inches away from each other and at the edges of the waxed paper.
e) Obtain ½ tsp of each solid listed above; use a well plate to hold the samples.
f) Make a data tableto record the effect of each solid on its mound of polymer.
g) With your fingers, sprinkle a solid over the surface of one of the mounds. Observe/record results in the data table. Repeat with theremaining solids.
h) Discard wax paper by wrapping the contents up and putting into the garbage. Carefully rinse out the well plate and return to the supply table. Obtain instructor initials toindicate clean-up is complete.



Results:



|Ionic |Covalent |Ionic |Ionic |Covalent |Ionic |
|CaCl2...