Shell Game

It would be hard to argue that any polymer has had a greater impact in the past 40 years than sodium polyacrylate, the main “ingredient” in modern disposable diapers! Sodium polyacrylate is an example of a superabsorbent polymer. It has been estimated that sodium polyacrylate will absorb approximately 800 times its own weight in distilled water, or 300 times its weight in tap water. Play this version of a classic “shell game” to demonstrate the properties of this modern marvel.