Science Learned

The water and starch mixture creates a unique solution. When the glue is poured into the solution the suspended starches quickly attach to the string of glue. The result is a gooey string that is no longer sticky like glue, but has properties that are more rubbery and elastic.

Why?

Starch contains hundreds of thousands of tiny sugar molecules. In the case of starch, the sugar is not like sugar cubes or sugar granules used for cooking. The form of sugar is glucose. The glucose atoms bond together because of shared electrons in what is called a covalent bond. For starch, the covalent atom bonding is weak. When starch is suspended in water, the electron bonds do not form a solid shape. The water thickens, but remains a liquid. When the glue is introduced, the glucose atoms quickly attach to the glue creating a new material. The glue is no longer sticky. It expands slightly and forms a rubbery material that is stretchy, but can still easily break. This material is great for kids to experiment with because kids can easily feel the change in the chemistry of the glue. It would also be great material for a Halloween party since it feel very weird.

Scientists use natural and synthetic starches to make many products on the market today.