Editing Diaper Polymers (section)

== Demonstration ==

# Take a Diaper and start cutting it open on the inside to reveal the absorbent pad. Carefully pull out the pad and put it inside of a 1 gallon zip-lock bag.
# Close the bag, leaving air inside of it, and start shaking it. Explain to the audience that the absorbent pad in a diaper works because of the tiny acrylic acid crystals that are added to it. After shaking it for a minute, open the bag and toss the pad. there will be a collection of crystals in the bottom of the zip-lock bag!
# Dump the crystals from the bag into a cup or beaker, and add about 4 oz (~120 ml) to it. Stir it, and let it sit for a minute or two so the crystals can absorb the water. While it is sitting, explain the difference between hydrophobic and hydrophilic.
# Once the water has been absorbed, pick up the glass and hold it upside down over your head. The mixture stays inside the glass! If the mixture looks like it has air pockets, you can even add another ounce (~30 ml) of water to it.
# Now add a spoonful of salt to the solution and stir it thoroughly. As you stir, the solution will become wet again, and the crystals stop sticking to each other! This final solution can safely be poured down a drain.