One of the most unusual substances in chemistry, slime blurs the line between solid and liquid stages of matter. Slime and other substances like it are common in the average everyday life today, and yet are almost unnoticed. Slime is a colloid, a substance that shares both liquid and solid traits. Many colloids are polymers, which are a certain type of molecule. Although slime may seem simple, in reality it is quite complex in the microscopic standpoint.
Slime can also be referred to as a non-Newtonian fluid. A non-newtonian fluid is a fluid that has a changeable viscosity. “There are two basic behaviors of non-Newtonian fluids. One type is termed shear-thinning. fluids decrease in viscosity when a shear stress is applied” (Rohrig 2). …show more content…
However, many different types of slime have similar chemical composition and structure. One factor of why slime is so complex is because it is, basically, a compound composed of many compounds. As a more complete explanation; “Almost all synthetic polymers are mixtures. A polymer sample consists of many molecules, each of which is itself quite large, and this collection of long-chain molecules has a distribution of molecular weights” (Brauman 1). Unlike other molecules, A polymer is composed of multiple smaller molecules, which are known as monomers. One particular reason some monomers form these bonds in polymerization is to share electrons between atoms at the end of each monomer. Monomers are often able to bond in this way due to their carbon double bonds, and outermost atoms. One process of this is referred to as dehydration synthesis, when at least one oxygen atom and two hydrogen atoms are lost by two monomers in order to form chemical bonds, creating water as a byproduct. Also, because slime is a mixture, concentration of particles can vary, much like salt water. Also similar to salt water, slime often consists of H2O, either as a solvent or in a chemical bond. For example, “One variety of slime that can be easily made in the lab involves the addition of a saturated solution of sodium tetraborate decahydrate (Na2B4O7⦁10H2O), commonly known as borax, to a solution of glue and water” (Rohrig 3). Borax is commonly used …show more content…
Latex is one large example. Sap is collected from a rubber tree, then certain ingredients are added to give it the desired properties, and then hardened to a certain shape. Sap is a polymer, and is used by trees to patch wounds and trap insects and to prevent disease. However, one particular slime secreted by the hagfish has an unusual purpose. In fact, much of what is known about slime has been because of studying hagfish slime. Unusually for a fish, “Hagfishes have evolved a counter-attack strategy that targets fishes where they are most vulnerable─the gills. We have shown that hagfish slime dramatically increases the hydrodynamic resistance of teleost gills, at least in freshly dead specimens, and the likely result for a predator that gets a mouthful of slime is suffocation” (Douglas 34). Unlike superabsorbent gels, where water is tightly connected to polymers and forms weak cross-links, hagfish slime does not absorb water. Instead, water is not tightly connected to hagfish slime, but is captured within the microscopic pores in the slime, and when combined with the high viscosity of the slime, the slime not only prevents water from passing through, but it is difficult for the slime to pass through certain barriers, such as gills. This causes suffocation for gill-breathing predators when they inhale the slime. The unique effects of this slime are all caused by the chemistry of the slime. Slime is not only
Slime can also be referred to as a non-Newtonian fluid. A non-newtonian fluid is a fluid that has a changeable viscosity. “There are two basic behaviors of non-Newtonian fluids. One type is termed shear-thinning. fluids decrease in viscosity when a shear stress is applied” (Rohrig 2). …show more content…
However, many different types of slime have similar chemical composition and structure. One factor of why slime is so complex is because it is, basically, a compound composed of many compounds. As a more complete explanation; “Almost all synthetic polymers are mixtures. A polymer sample consists of many molecules, each of which is itself quite large, and this collection of long-chain molecules has a distribution of molecular weights” (Brauman 1). Unlike other molecules, A polymer is composed of multiple smaller molecules, which are known as monomers. One particular reason some monomers form these bonds in polymerization is to share electrons between atoms at the end of each monomer. Monomers are often able to bond in this way due to their carbon double bonds, and outermost atoms. One process of this is referred to as dehydration synthesis, when at least one oxygen atom and two hydrogen atoms are lost by two monomers in order to form chemical bonds, creating water as a byproduct. Also, because slime is a mixture, concentration of particles can vary, much like salt water. Also similar to salt water, slime often consists of H2O, either as a solvent or in a chemical bond. For example, “One variety of slime that can be easily made in the lab involves the addition of a saturated solution of sodium tetraborate decahydrate (Na2B4O7⦁10H2O), commonly known as borax, to a solution of glue and water” (Rohrig 3). Borax is commonly used …show more content…
Latex is one large example. Sap is collected from a rubber tree, then certain ingredients are added to give it the desired properties, and then hardened to a certain shape. Sap is a polymer, and is used by trees to patch wounds and trap insects and to prevent disease. However, one particular slime secreted by the hagfish has an unusual purpose. In fact, much of what is known about slime has been because of studying hagfish slime. Unusually for a fish, “Hagfishes have evolved a counter-attack strategy that targets fishes where they are most vulnerable─the gills. We have shown that hagfish slime dramatically increases the hydrodynamic resistance of teleost gills, at least in freshly dead specimens, and the likely result for a predator that gets a mouthful of slime is suffocation” (Douglas 34). Unlike superabsorbent gels, where water is tightly connected to polymers and forms weak cross-links, hagfish slime does not absorb water. Instead, water is not tightly connected to hagfish slime, but is captured within the microscopic pores in the slime, and when combined with the high viscosity of the slime, the slime not only prevents water from passing through, but it is difficult for the slime to pass through certain barriers, such as gills. This causes suffocation for gill-breathing predators when they inhale the slime. The unique effects of this slime are all caused by the chemistry of the slime. Slime is not only