Practical Chemistry of Long-Lasting Bubbles

Momoko Ueno^{1, 2}, Naho Isokawa¹, Kazuki Fueda¹, Suzuka Nakahara¹, Hinako Teshima¹, Nanami Yamamoto¹, Haruka Yokoyama¹, Yukina Noritsugu¹, Koushi Shibata¹, Kourin Miyagawa¹, Seiko Tanaka¹, Takashi Hirano¹, Ayako Fujito², Ayaka Takashima² and Kenichi Kanno^2,

¹Kindai University Fukuoka High School, 11-6 Kayanomori, Iizuka, Fukuoka, Japan

²Department of Biological and Environmental Chemistry, Kindai University, 11-6 Kayanomori, Iizuka, Fukuoka, Japan

Cite this paper:
Momoko Ueno, Naho Isokawa, Kazuki Fueda, Suzuka Nakahara, Hinako Teshima, Nanami Yamamoto, Haruka Yokoyama, Yukina Noritsugu, Koushi Shibata, Kourin Miyagawa, Seiko Tanaka, Takashi Hirano, Ayako Fujito, Ayaka Takashima and Kenichi Kanno. Practical Chemistry of Long-Lasting Bubbles. World Journal of Chemical Education. 2016; 4(2):32-44. doi: 10.12691/wjce-4-2-2

Abstract

In this report, an experiment is described in which high school students investigate long-lasting bubbles of their own design. The features of the soap bubbles change depending on their chemical composition. To investigate the students’ original bubbles, the chemical structures and features of the ingredients are considered when choosing the detergent, polymer, and other chemical components. Soap bubble containing sucrose, sodium alkyl ether sulfate (AES)-detergent and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) (or partially hydrolyzed poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVAAc)) often maintains a spherical shape on various solid surfaces, including concrete, asphalt, tile, and grass after landing. Students hypothesize that the low surface tension of the long-lasting bubble is not the sole reason for its long lifetime on various solid surface. The mechanism behind the extended lifetime is discussed through experiments involving the surface tension and lifetimes of the bubbles under various humidity conditions. Students encounter basic chemistry through the experiment, which can be adopted into the chemistry curriculum.

Keywords:
long-lasting bubble polymer surfactant high school chemistry

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