How to Shapeshift: Molecular Edition
Students will be able to further their knowledge of organic chemistry through further understanding the four main organic compound groups and how they can change!
This program can be delivered virtually or in person, but requires the students to have the materials in advance to partake.
What You Need
Activity 1: Casein Plastic
- 1 cup of milk (any kind, so long as it is dairy-based)
- 1/4 cup of vinegar
- Microwave safe dish
- Strainer/colander (or cup)
- Paper towel (or coffee filter)
- Measuring cups
- Markers
- Oven mitt
- Mixing spoon
- Access to a microwave
Activity 2: Make it Up!
- 1 tbsp coconut oil or Shea butter (edible, solid butter)
- 1 tbsp honey or 2 tsp gelatin powder
- Spoon
- Measuring spoons
- Container
- Oven mitt
- Microwave safe dish
- Access to a microwave
- Essential oils (4-5 drops) or cinnamon (dash) (optional)
Guide:
Presentation:
Physical Requirements
This workshop can be done in person or virtually. In either case those participating in the activities will need access to a table, a microwave, and/or a fridge.
You will need a space that will allow you to comfortably lead/demonstrate activities. Check that you have all supplies necessary for the activity.
This kit works best with a partner who can monitor the chat for questions, if being completed virtually.
What To Do
Activity 1: Casein Plastic
- Add 1 cup of milk to a microwave safe bowl or cup and heat in the microwave for 90 seconds. The milk should just be bubbling, not boiling for this activity. CAUTION: Be careful when removing this bowl or cup to not burn yourself! Use oven mitts or a kitchen towel to remove the container from the microwave.
- After removing from the microwave, stir in ¼ cup of vinegar. Stir for about a minute. At this stage you should see some curdling.
- At this point, you need to place some paper towel or a coffee filter in your strainer or colander. Place the strainer in the sink. If you are completing this activity in the classroom, you can use a cup with a coffee filter instead.
- Pour your milk and vinegar mix into the strainer and press out any additional liquid with the paper towel.
- On your workspace lay out another piece of paper towel. Scoop out the curdled section onto the paper towel.It is now reduced to a plastic mixture made up of casein proteins and polymers. Shape the plastic into a fun shape.
- Let your creation sit for 48 hours before you colour it.
Activity 2: Make it Up!
Version 1
- Add 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of shea butter or coconut oil to a microwave safe bowl.
- Heat the shea butter or coconut oil in the microwave for 10 seconds, then stir it. Heat the coconut oil in 5 second increments until it is melted and hot, but not bubbling. Tip:In total this usually takes about 30-40 seconds. Make sure to stir.
- Add in 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of raw honey and 4-5 drops of essential oil. Stir in the honey and essential oil until they're well blended. If you don’t have an essential oil you can use cinnamon, vanilla, mint leaves or you don’t have to do anything at home. Tip: You will need to stir the mixture for a few minutes to ensure that you are mixing the honey and the coconut oil enough.
- Pour this mixture into a container to cool, and place it off to the side. If you would like the lip balm to cool faster, place it in the fridge for a few hours instead. This can be anything at home that you have cleaned out and plan on reusing. If there is separation in your container after cooling, it is possible that the coconut oil was not warm enough when it was mixed with the honey. Or it may be due to not enough mixing! You can try reheating your container and mixing your lip balm together again. Be aware though of what container your final product is in and whether or not it is microwave safe, before you reheat it!
Version 2
- Warm up 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of coconut oil in the microwave. Start with 15 seconds. If that doesn't melt the oil, heat it at 5-second intervals. You need the coconut oil hot enough to liquefy and activate the gelatin. It won't mix well if it's still in its solid form. You can also use equal parts of coconut oil and petroleum jelly. You may need to stir it a bit to make sure it's evenly melted.
- Tip: This takes anywhere from 30-40 seconds.
- Mix in 2 teaspoons (about 6 grams) of your favorite gelatin powder. Mix it in while the oil is hot, making sure to stir it thoroughly. The heat will help activate the gelatin so the lip balm will set properly. The type of gelatin will also act as a lip stain so be conscious of this when you are making this.
- Tip: Make sure to incorporate the gelatin significantly. There should be few crystals visible when done.
- Pour the mixture into a small container to set. You can use old lip balm tubes or any small container, such as a clean baby food jar. Put it in the refrigerator to cool for 2-3 hours if you're in a hurry, or you can just let it sit overnight. You can use it when it has cooled down and solidified.
Discovery
Organic compounds can be found in lots of different shapes and sizes, but here are the main ones:
- Carbohydrates
- Lipids
- Proteins
- Nucleotides
Activity 1: Caesin Plastic
Milk contains both carbohydrates and proteins which we are able to change the shape of with the help of the vinegar. Casein plastic was used to make buttons, beads, buckles, combs, necklaces, fountain pens, umbrella handles, cutlery handles, and knitting needles. Today casein plastic is still used to make fountain pens!
Milk has a pH around 6.5. This means that it is slightly acidic as a pH of 7 is neutral. When we add vinegar the pH of the milk becomes more acidic. This change in pH unfolds proteins in the milk called casein proteins. The unfolding allows for these proteins to form long chains (polymers) which creates the plastic! This is the curdling we see!
Activity 2: Make It Up!
When we heated the coconut oil (saturated lipid), it expanded the spaces between the stacked lipids! When in liquid form we are able to add the honey/gelatin which slightly changes the texture and structure of the coconut oil.
The makeup industry likes lipids! Lipids lead to a reduction in water loss from our skin. This can help with keeping our skin elasticity, prevent wrinkles, and keep our skin smooth!
Shape is everything! If you change the shape of something, you can change what it is able to do! Think of a tree - when you see it in your yard it is tall and has many branches. When you cut it down and turn it into lumber the shape of the original tree has changed and so has its purpose! Some changes can be helpful, but not all changes allow for continued use!
These are a few extension activities the students can continue to work on or try out after the Let’s Talk Science workshop.
- Check out our functional group personality quiz, “Which functional group are you?”, to determine which group fits your personality. The questions from this quiz are going to symbolize different characteristics of the functional groups.
- For a further look into nucleotides check out this RNA VirtuaLab.
What's Happening?
Organic compounds can be found in lots of different shapes and sizes, but here are the main ones:
- Carbohydrates
- Lipids
- Proteins
- Nucleotides
Activity 1: Caesin Plastic
Milk contains both carbohydrates and proteins which we are able to change the shape of with the help of the vinegar. Casein plastic was used to make buttons, beads, buckles, combs, necklaces, fountain pens, umbrella handles, cutlery handles, and knitting needles. Today casein plastic is still used to make fountain pens!
Milk has a pH around 6.5. This means that it is slightly acidic as a pH of 7 is neutral. When we add vinegar the pH of the milk becomes more acidic. This change in pH unfolds proteins in the milk called casein proteins. The unfolding allows for these proteins to form long chains (polymers) which creates the plastic! This is the curdling we see!
Activity 2: Make It Up!
When we heated the coconut oil (saturated lipid), it expanded the spaces between the stacked lipids! When in liquid form we are able to add the honey/gelatin which slightly changes the texture and structure of the coconut oil.
The makeup industry likes lipids! Lipids lead to a reduction in water loss from our skin. This can help with keeping our skin elasticity, prevent wrinkles, and keep our skin smooth!
Why Does it Matter?
Shape is everything! If you change the shape of something, you can change what it is able to do! Think of a tree - when you see it in your yard it is tall and has many branches. When you cut it down and turn it into lumber the shape of the original tree has changed and so has its purpose! Some changes can be helpful, but not all changes allow for continued use!
Investigate Further
These are a few extension activities the students can continue to work on or try out after the Let’s Talk Science workshop.
- Check out our functional group personality quiz, “Which functional group are you?”, to determine which group fits your personality. The questions from this quiz are going to symbolize different characteristics of the functional groups.
- For a further look into nucleotides check out this RNA VirtuaLab.