Magnetic Slime

Get Totally Messy With Gooey, Magnetic SLIME!

Why make simple slime when you can make super gooey and magnetic slime??

Suitable for kids aged 5+

You just need three main ingredients for this slime - too easy!

You Need:
  • PVA Glue (Elmers glue works best)
  • Liquid starch (Borax Solution could also be used)
  • Iron Filings or Iron Oxide powder
  • Mixing Bowl and Spoon
  • Magnets
  • Disposable gloves

What to do:
  1. Pour 1/4 cup of liquid starch into a bowl.
  2. Add 2 Tablespoons of iron powder or filings, stir until well mixed.
  3. Add 1/4 cup of PVA glue, mix... keep stiring!
  4. Take the slime out of the bowl and mix with your hands. Pat dry it paper towel.
  5. When dry play with it, stretch it, bounce it, and most of all observe its magnetic force!

Why is it so?

Slime is a weird kind of matter that doesn't fit neatly into the three common types, or states, of matter we know about: solids, liquids and gases.

It seems to pour, or run, like a liquid. But much more slowly than water.

So what is it!? Because it doesn't seem to follow Isaac Newton's definitions of the three states of matter, we call slime non-Newtonian matter. Any type of matter that doesn't quite fit as a solid, liquid or gas, falls into this broad group.

Other examples of strange non-Newtonian matter are, jelly, blood, toothpaste, ink and glue.

By adding a ferrous component we can keep all characteristics of the awesome slime, but now have the additional dimension of magnetism!

Try a few tricks that are explained in the video below. For example you can watch the slime rise and follow your magnet, draw upon paper clips and even swallow a strong enough magnet like a living organism!



Do more cool experiments with the science kits available on this website.
WHAT ARE SOLIDS, LIQUIDS AND GASES?

All matter, everything in our world, can be classified into three common groups, or states of matter solids, liquids and gasses.

You know something is solid if it doesn't change shape and you can't put your hand through it. Solids are said to have a fixed shape and volume (the amount of space they take up). Some examples of solids are tables, shells, rocks, paper, hair, soil and ice.

You can normally pour liquids; they feel wet and you can put your hand through them. Liquids are said to change shape but not volume. Some examples of liquids are water, juice, milk, cordial, vinegar, oil, and alcohol.

Unlike solids and liquids, gases change shape and volume. They move freely in all directions taking the shape and volume of their container. Most gases are invisible. Air is a mix of different gases, like oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen.