Today I was asked to witness some experiments.
I learnt some good things.
It proves that we do not stop knowing something new each day; whatever age.
It also says that it is inspiring to know the students are trying out some interesting acts.
It is also encouraging to see some serious learning among students.
Diapers and babies.
Why? Today I learnt the principle behind diaper making.
I also now know why some magicians manage to trick onlookers so convincingly.
First, Heng Yee of 5 Science 1 filled a cup with water.
Like a magician, he started to switch the position of the cup among cups without water and asked blatantly; which is the cup with the water...
You can point at any cup...the answer is still ?
The missing water. Where is the cup with the water?
The magic word is sodium poly acrylate powder !
A super absorbent; it absorbs water up to 300 times of its weight; the water then becomes a mass as shown.
This powder must have been applied to baby diapers too; that's how babies are kept dry even after peeing...
Heng Yee says; now you know.
Yes, now I really know.
Next, the fourth formers also want to show off some skills.
This time it's Borax powder !
Jonathon told me that the toughest job of the experiment was getting Borax ! He finally found it at IOI mall.
The group are into making Borax crystals and the order for them is a long list.
Some super saturated solution is created by heating borax powder over a fire.
Next, strings of pipe cleaners are placed into the solution.
As the solution cools, the borax particles stick onto the rough surface of the pipe cleaners; attracting more particles each time.
After 6-12 hours, lo and behold crystals ! Yes, crystals are formed and like magic...they become decorative items for the home.
Priced at RM3, RM4 and RM 5 depending on the look, these borax crystals are a hit among the students !
The excited ones next has this to display.
Ashley and Kyshanty eagerly ushered me to share their excitement. They told me that a mixture of hydrogen peroxide, food colouring, potassium ioxide and the popular dish washing soap will entertain us well indeed !
See, the potassium iodide acts as a catalyst to remove the oxygen from the hydrogen peroxide and while trapping the oxygen and creating bubbles, the mixture next transforms into foam ! Real long foams !
The term they used to describe the foam is : Elephant toothpaste. Quite an appropriate one.
Kishen, Dharisiny and Yun Mun have something for us to ponder.
DNAs...
Kishen says the banana is best used for this experiment as it has properties so close to the human for DNA findings. He says if he were able to change the chromosomes of the fruit, it would be like extracting human DNAs. Can we believe him?
Crushed banana is mixed with table salt and distilled water. Now they use the famous dish washing solution again; just a mere teaspoon. I asked the students why they love the dish washing solution? They replied that is has many properties suitable for experiments.
The dish washing solution breaks the nucleus of a cell and releases the diluted DNA into the solution.
Then a few drops of pure alcohol are added and when they coagulate the DNA, it will form a mucus-like substance on top of the solution.
Now, the testing begins. Whose DNA is this ?
This method can be used in forensic science to find the DNA of a murderer !!! Wow.
Learn, children learn and do not make the teachers go round the school like a in a circus...
Learn right things .
What a learning experience today.
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