Saturday, October 29, 2022

Ewww… what’s that slippery stuff?!  Halloween is a time to explore the chemistry of hygroscopic substances that are slimy, slippery, and sticky.  Food gels contain protein strands that twist together in a special way. We whipped up our own gelatinous concoctions with chemistry to celebrate.  Think ectoplasm, slime, and green ooze!

Preparation: 1 package of Jell-O (vegan alternative: 1 package of agar); 2 cups of hot water (1 minute in the microwave); flour (gluten-free alternative: corn starch); red and green food dye; 6 small (1 oz) cups (or a silicone ice cube mould).  Measuring tools: 1 tablespoon (tbsp), 1 teaspoon (tsp).

The participants that wore their Halloween costumes had a chance to win a prize!

Expert: Brianna Rector is a Ph.D. Candidate at Western University studying carbon steel corrosion dynamic model development.