Silly Putty is a classic toy that has entertained kids for generations. It's stretchy, bouncy, and fun to play with. Here is our recipe for making a version of Silly Putty!
Get silly. Have fun!
What You Will Need:
- 1-1/2 cups Water
- 1/2 cup White Glue (Elmer's glue is preferred)
- 3 drops Food Coloring (optional)
- 2 tablespoons Borax (found in the laundry aisle of most grocery stores)
- Mixing Bowl
- Mixing Spoon
What You Do:
- Mix 1/2 cup water and glue. Stir to mix thoroughly.
- Add food coloring, if desired.
- In a separate container, mix 2 tablespoons Borax and 1 cup of water. Stir well.
- Add 1/2 cup of Borax solution mixture to the water and glue mixture. Mix well.
- Knead the putty. The more you knead it, the more cohesive and stretchy it will become.
If the putty feels too sticky, you can add a little more Borax solution. - Store in a plastic bag.
The Science:
White school blue is made of polyvinyl acetate (PVA), a type of polymer. Polymers are long chains of molecules that can slide past each other, giving the glue its sticky, liquid properties. Borax (sodium tetraborate) acts as a cross-linking agent. When Borax is added to the glue mixture, it creates connections (cross-links) between the long polymer chains of the glue. This cross-linking transforms the liquid glue into a more solid, stretching substance known as a gel.
