Aldon Innovating Science Polymers: Making Fluorescent Worms Activity

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. 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; and 6 Forceps. Other materials needed but not supplied are: 3 containers for calcium chloride solutions (such as beakers, glass jars, or plastictrays) and a black light. Aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).
WARNING: Cancer