Liquefied Solid, Solidified Liquid: The Wonder of Oobleck

Materials Required:
o Small sandwich bag or clear container of Oobleck made in advance (to prevent boredom in
the class during the teacher demonstration making Oobleck can be time consuming)
o ater hot! cold! room temperature
o "ce
o #ornstarch
o $opsicle sticks
o %owls or beakers and measuring spoons
o $lastic wrap& aluminum foil& wa' paper! smocks! late' gloves! surgical masks (optional)
Safet( #onsiderations
o )he hot water will be obtained from a facet at the hottest setting* Students should be
cautious to avoid being scalded*
o #ornstarch dust ma( be irritating to students and students with asthma! breathing
problems! or gluten allergies are encouraged to take precautions avoid inhaling the dust
or wear a surgical mask*
#urricular #ontent
)he Specific +earning Outcome for Manitoba Middle ,ears that is covered b( this e'periment is:
5-2-05 (-+O: ./) and 5-2-08 (-+O: ./! 0/! 01)*
"n these specific learning outcome students will:
o 234352: "dentif( the properties of the three states of matter
o Solids have definite volume and hold their shape
o +iquids have definite volume but take the shape of their container
o -ases have no definite volume and take the volume and shape of their
container
o 234356: .emonstrate that changes of state are reversible with through the addition or
removal of heat
o Melting(liquef(ing)! free7ing&solidification! condensation! evaporation
+esson $rocedure:
)his section of the lesson will use the O.E. model of instruction (Observation and E'planation)
.emonstration:
o 8se the plastic wrap to protect the work surface and for eas( clean up*
o $ull out the bag of pre made Oobleck and show it to the class! do not tell them what the it
is* -entl( tip the bag from side to side to allow the Oobleck to move*
o 9sk the class for observations
o :;ow does it move<= :.oes it have a definite shape or volume<=
o :hat state is the substance in<=
o Since the Oobleck is being handled gentl(! it will behave like a liquid and the
students should respond with an answer that it is a liquid*
o Open the bag and slowly pour some of the Oobleck into (our palm ((ou do not want the
class to see an( solid properties (et) then begin rolling it around to solidif( it and form a
lump* ;old it up for the class to see! stop working it and let the class observe as it liquefies
from a solid to a liquid again*
Observation:
o )he substance held the bag>s shape and poured like a liquid! (et when it was worked? it
took on solid properties b( having a definite shape! and then returned to liquid form when it
was no longer handled*
.isequilibrium:
Oobleck is a wonderful e'ample of a discrepant* Students of an( age would not e'pect a
liquid into a solid and back again without the aid of heat and cooling* Students are taught
that there are three states that matter e'ists in: solids! liquids! and gases* ,et there is an
unofficial forth state in which a substance can displa( properties of both solids and liquids*
0'planation
o 9sk students to raise their hands to respond to :what do (ou think happened<=
o 9fter hearing some of their theories! clarif( what has occurred to the substance*
0'planation and )heor(:
o )his substance is :Oobleck!= a suspension formed from cornstarch and water* 9s a
suspension! the cornstarch does not dissolve in water like a soluble substance such a
sugar! but rather it remains in tin( granules that are evenl( suspended throughout the
water molecules* "t is believed that because these solid granules of cornstarch e'ist and
react to e'ternal forces that Oobleck behaves the wa( it does*
o One theor( is that cornstarch is a two structure compound composed of cr(stalline and non
cr(stalline formations* )he non cr(stalline formations absorb water* hen pressure is
placed on Oobleck! the cr(stalline structures breakdown into non cr(stalline and absorb
more water making Oobleck behave like a solid* hen the pressure is released the
cr(stals reform and release the water returning the Oobleck to a liquid state*
o 9nother theor( is that the water between the cornstarch granules allows for free movement
of these granules! giving a liquid like3propert(! but when the movement is abrupt or forceful
the water is forced from between the granules and the friction between them increases
greatl( making it ver( difficult to flow freel( as it did before! giving a solid3like propert(*
@urther 0'perimentation:
)his section utili7es the P.O.E. model of instruction (Prediction! Observation! and E'planation!) and
gives the students a chance to further their understanding of the states of matter b( observing the
reactions of both states of Oobleck* ()he teacher ma( continue to this section if s&he does not
believe her&his class is mature enough to handle Oobleck directl(*)
$reparation:
o 8se the plastic wrap to protect the work surface and for eas( clean up*
o Measure appro'imatel( two parts cornstarch to one and A parts room temperature water*
9dd the water to the cornstarch while stirring continuousl(* )he substance is read( when it
resists hard force but (ields to gentle force* "f it is too runn(! add more cornstarch* "f it
crumbles and is too dr(! add a few drops of water until the desired consistenc( is reached*
hat do (ou think will happen if (ouB
o $oke Oobleck with the popsicle stick gentl( then forcefull(* hat do (ou observe<
ith mild force! Oobleck acts as a liquid because there is not enough pressure to
cause the structure to change or increase friction! thus the popsicle stick sinks*
-reater force causes Oobleck>s particles to react and absorb the water thus increasing
the friction between particles! imitating a solid in which the popsicle stick cannot break
though easil( with force*
o $lace Oobleck on a plastic wrap covered bowl filled with ice* hat do (ou observe<
"t would solidif( without pressure or force because the cold would cause the particles
to slow down* Oobleck can be lifted and broken as a solid until it warms up*
o $lace Oobleck on a plastic wrap covered bowl filled with hot tap water* hat do (ou
observe<
"t would become ver( runn( as the heat would speed the particles up* "t is slightl(
more difficult to return it to solid form because of this*
o orked Oobleck in (our hands for a few minutes* hat do (ou observe<
)he constant e'posure of the manipulated surface area of Oobleck to air would cause
the water to evaporate! returning Oobleck to simple! solid powder cornstarch*
#oncluding Cuestions for Students:
D* hat are the ingredients needed to create Oobelck< hat is the appro'imate ratio of
these ingredients used to create Oobleck<
4* 0'plain what happens when the particles of a substance! such as water for e'ample!
speed up and slow down* hat does this cause the substance to do<
/* ould it be possible to walk on Oobleck and not sink if there was enough of it< "f so! how
and wh(<
1* hat are some other common substances that are suspensions<
2* 0'plain wh( Oobleck acts a solid and a liquid*
References:
Schlumberger* (4556)* Liquids: Thick and Thin* Seed* 9 Schlumberger Eon3$rofit #ommunit(
.evelopment $rogram* Science +ab* .igging .eeper* 9ccessed October D1 4556
from http:&&www*seed*slb*com&en& scictr &notes&liquFgui*htm
#obb! G* and .arling! H* (4556)* A Clean Getaway, We Dare You. Hundreds o !un "cience #ets,
Challen$es, and %&peri'ents You Can Do at Ho'e. Eew ,ork: Sk(horse $ublishing*
$gs 25324*
Sprung! %* (455I! Januar()* ,0S ,O8 #9EK* %arly Childhood Today! ()(1)! 1132D* Retrieved
October D5! 4556! from 9cademic Search #omplete
database*http:&&web*ebscohost*com*pro'(4*lib*umanitoba*ca&ehost&detail<
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