How to Make Homemade Instant Alginate Worm?

We use Instant Alginate Worm to create an undersea world. Kids can shape any forms using Sodium Alginate. This STEM activity is so colorful and beautiful that kids cannot resist the temptation to play it. And, do not worry about it. It is non-toxic.

Ages: 5+            Est. Time: < 20 mins

 Safety 

1. Adult supervision.
2. Wear protective gloves and goggles.
3. Do not eat the Worm in this experiment.

 Materials List 

• Sodium alginate 8g
• Calcium lactate 30g
• Water
• Food coloring
• Glycerin
• Beakers
• Bowl
• Mold
• Spoon
• Tray
• Glass rod
• Syringe

 Instruction 

Step 1/6 –Add 8g of sodium alginate into the 400ml water about 70℃. Stir until it is completely dissolved. Then averagely pour them into each of four beakers, and different food coloring to each.

Step 2/6 –Add 30g of calcium lactate in a big bowl of water. Stir until it is completely dissolved.

Step 3/6 – Wet the mold with calcium lactate solution, ensuring that it is wetted completely.

Step 4/6 – Pour the sodium alginate solution into the mold, full but not spilling out.

Step 5/6 –Fill the mold with sodium alginate solution and then put it into the calcium lactate solution, leave it in the solution for 2-3 minutes, and gently shake it until the worm separates from the mold.

Step 6/6 –Leave the worms in the calcium lactate solution for 5-10 minutes and then you get your Instant Alginate Worms.

 Troubleshooting 

What if alginate comes to blocks when it is dissolved in water?

— Dissolve it in hot water and stir with a spoon.

Why is difficult to separate the worm from mold?

— ensuring that you completely wet the mold with a calcium lactate solution.

Why are the worms so hard?

— It probably is the worms being left in calcium lactate solution for too long. Generally, leave it in the solution for 5-10mins.

Why do worms break?

— The worm absorbs water and expand. If it absorbs too much water it will break.

 Scientific Description 

Sodium alginate is the polysaccharide extracted from seaweed. Its aqueous solution has a high viscosity. It is generally used as a thickener, stabilizer, and emulsifier in the processed food industry. It can be found in ice cream, acting as a stabilizer. When sodium alginate is exposed to calcium ions, the calcium ions replace the sodium ions in sodium alginate, which allows it to form ionic bonds that bridge between alginate chains, forming a long chain. The longer the sodium alginate is exposed to the calcium ions solution, the more sodium is displaced, the more cross-links formed.

 Extensions 

It is also possible to spray with a syringe the sodium alginate into the calcium lactate to create a long worm or a snake, maybe.

 Disposal 

Alginate Worms can be treated as domestic waste. Pour the liquid into the sink and do not forget washing what you have used.