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In this activity on page 10 of the PDF, learners develop an experiment to answer the following question: "How much water can the hydrogel in a baby diaper hold?" Use this activity to explore polymers, nanoscale science and nanotechnology. Safety notes: The powder in baby diapers is irritating to the eye and nasal membranes. Avoid shaking the diapers a lot, since doing so is more likely to irritate your nose. Always wear goggles when doing this activity. The gelled material can be disposed of in the trash -- do not put it in the sink, as it may clog the drain!
- Under 5 minutes
- 10 to 30 minutes
- $1 - $5 per student
- Ages 8 - 18
- Activity, Experiment/Lab Activity
- English, Portuguese, Spanish
Quick Guide
Materials List (per student)
- 2 baby diapers (same size)
- Measuring tools
- Water
- Anything else you need to do the experiment that you plan
Subjects
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Engineering and Technology
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Engineering
- Metallurgy and Materials Engineering
- Nanotechnology
- Technology
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Engineering
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Physical Sciences
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Chemistry
- Chemical Bonding
- Chemical Reactions
- Solutions
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States of Matter
- Solids
- Liquids
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Structure and Properties of Matter
- Atomic Structure
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Chemistry
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The Nature of Science
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The Scientific Process
- Asking Questions
- Conducting Investigations
- Gathering Data
- Formulating Explanations
- Communicating Results
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The Scientific Process
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The Nature of Technology
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Technology and Society
- Impacts of Technology
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The Design Process
- Invention and Innovation
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Technology and Society
Audience
To use this activity, learners need to:
- see
- read
- touch
Learning styles supported:
- Involves hands-on or lab activities
Other
Foreign language versions of this resource:
Access Rights:
- Free access
By:
- Hogue, Lynn ; McGinnis, Michael
Rights:
- All rights reserved, American Chemical Society, 2012