Australia's Science Forum

Hi Everyone,

We would like to make some bouncy balls. Have tried with pva glue, borax and cornflour, but no success. Could someone please message back with an exact recipe that is tried and trusted.

Thank you so much.

Lab Woman

Use 50ml latex
30ml HCl or 30ml vinegar works well
mix well with stirring rod

This is basically the one we have used. The only problem is you have to watch the ration of ethanol. It is pretty tricky to get just right and not brittle. It's fun trying though

http://www.sciencecompany.com/the-bounc ... -W138.aspx

I tried this one year when the teacher had asked about making them.

I used the recipe from Hienemann Interactive 4 but once I did I had grave reservations about the risks involved.

It uses 25mls Latex with 20 ml of 2M hydrocholic Acid.
The method is to place the latex in a beaker and slowly add the acis while stirring the solution.
You then wash the ball thoroughly uinder water Squeezing it gently so the acid is completely removed,
This squeezing actually causes the acid trapped in the ball to come squirting out in unexpected directions.
Goggles and gloves are a must and the squirts could hit anywhere
There was a marked "rotten egg gas smell" as it was being made

Once the balls were made I could see them being thrown everwhere potentially hitting someone or a window etc.

Prof Bunsen sells kits for making bouncy "stuff", polymers etc and they work brilliantly.
Cheers

Linotas, is the sodium silicate a solution or the solid do you reckon? I did have both but I think I made all the solid up. And the latex/HCl is the recipe for rubber, a Yr 11 prac.

We have good success with the 10/10/10 bouncing ball recipe.
!0ml water/10mlPVA glue/10mlBorax powder

Joy

Hi Everyone,

The teacher used the recipe on the attached "science company website" using sodium silicate and ethyl alcohol. It worked a treat and was very easy to make.

She has now done the prac numerous times over the last week and was very happy - as were the kids.

Thank you to everyone for your responses.

Lab Woman

Sorry am a bit late to respond, yes it is the solution and YAY! that it worked
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