Innovating Science® - Polymers - Making Fluorescent Worms

Allow students to learn about polymers and cross-linking using this fun and colorful activity. Students add a solution of sodium alginate to three calcium chloride solutions, each containing a different fluorescent dye. After a few minutes the liquid sodium alginate solution forms into gel-like polymer "worms". Upon completion of the activity, the worms may be placed under a black light and the students will observe their worms glow red, blue, and green.

Contains enough material to make several dozen polymer worms.

Aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)*

Disciplinary Core Ideas: PS1.A; PS1.B
Performance Expectations: MS-PS1-2
Cross Cutting Concepts: Patterns
Engineering Practices: Analyzing and Interpreting Data

Kit Includes:
6g Sodium Alginate
1L Calcium Chloride/0.1% Fluorescein, 0.1M
1L Calcium Chloride/0.04% Rhodamine B, 0.1M
1L Calcium Chloride/0.5% Quinine Sulfate, 0.1M
3 Empty bottles w/flip-top caps
6 Forceps

Materials Needed but not Supplied
3 Containers for calcium chloride solutions (such as beakers, glass jars, or plastictrays)
Black light

DOT Info:
Non-regulated

*"Next Generation Science Standards" is a registered trademark of Achieve. Neither Achieve nor the lead states and partners that developed the Next Generation Science Standards was involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product.

WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including D&C Red No. 19, which is known to the State of California to cause cancer. For more information go to http://www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.