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  Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues > 2003  > November  >
In the Laboratory
JCE Classroom Activity
Pondering Packing Peanut Polymers
Perry A. Cook, Sue Hall, and Jill Donahue
University of Wisconsin—Stevens Point, Stevens Point, WI 54481
Cover
November 2003
Vol. 80 No. 11
p. 1288A
Abstract
Both polystyrene and cornstarch are made of polymers, which are long-chain molecules that have a basic repeating unit. Some polymers are polar (such as cornstarch), while others are nonpolar (such as polystyrene). The polar parts of cornstarch are hydroxy (–OH) groups that hang off the main chain. These hydroxy groups interact with water molecules to form hydrogen bonds, and as a result, cornstarch is soluble in water. Polystyrene has no hydroxy groups and is nonpolar, so it does not dissolve in water. The crosslinking structure of polystyrene can be broken down in certain organic solvents such as acetone. However, such solvents are usually toxic and harmful to the environment. This Activity compares polystyrene and cornstarch packing materials ("peanuts"). Both are made of polymers, but because of their composition they behave very differently in various solvents. Students extrapolate how these differences in behavior relate to environmental effects.

See Featured Molecules.
Supplement
QuickTime movies of he crosslinking structure of polystyrene-based packing peanuts being broken down in acetone, and cornstarch-based packing peanuts dissolving in water are available.
More Information
*  Citation
 Cook, Perry A.; Hall, Sue; Donahue, Jill. J. Chem. Educ. 2003 80 1288A.
*  Keywords
 Introductory / High School Chemistry; Polymer Chemistry; Teaching / Learning Aids
*  History
 Created:
Last Updated:		 October 2, 2003
February 28, 2005
Link to Featured Molecules added (April 2004).
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