Plastic is everywhere. With just a quick glance around a room you will probable notice many things made of plastic. These plastics are either natural plastics which are made of materials such as wax or natural rubber, or they can be synthetic plastics which are made from nylon or polyethylene. While most plastic is made of petroleum oil, the type of plastic we will make in the following activity is natural plastic.

 

Make your own plastic activity:

This activity can be done individually or in pairs (adult supervision is important).

• Place a tripod over a meths burner with a mesh square on top.

• Half fill a beaker with milk.

• Carefully light the meths burner.

• When the milk begins to simmer, slowly stir in two teaspoons of vinegar.

• Continue to slowly add the vinegar until the mixture begins to gel.

• Leave the mixture to cool.

• When the mixture has cooled down enough rinse it with water and congratulations! You have plastic!