Materials List: Engineering Polymers from Potatoes

Each group needs:

  • 100 g potatoes (the variety doesn’t matter)
  • 250 mL beaker
  • large watch glass, available online
  • hot plate
  • petri dish
  • pH indicator strips (approx. 5-10 with testing)
  • disposable pipettes (approx. 4-5)
  • stirring rod
  • 25 mL graduated cylinder
  • 10 mL graduated cylinder
  • goggles

To share with the entire class:

  • vegetable grater
  • food processor (at least one per class, but one for each group is preferred)
  • tea strainer or mesh strainer or cheese cloth (at least one per class, but one for each group is preferred)
  • 100-150 mL bottle of glycerol
  • 100-150 mL bottle of 0.1 M hydrochloric acid
  • 100-150 mL bottle of sodium hydroxide
  • distilled water
  • an assortment of plastics items such as water bottles, plastics bags, containers, and PVC
https://www.teachengineering.org/activities/view/usm-2287-engineering-polymers-potatoes