Instant Snow Polymer

A small amount of instant snow polymer rapidly absorbs water and swells to many times its original volume, creating fluffy “snow and causing a temperature change.

1. Place a teaspoon-sized portion of instant snow polymer into a clear cup or tray.
2. Slowly pour water onto the powder (start with ~20–30 mL per gram) and watch it expand into “snow.”
3. Invite students to gently touch the fresh gel and note the temperature sensation.

Super-absorbent polymers create snow! - Imagination Station Toledo:

How Instant Snow Polymer Works - Sick Science!:

📄 Instant Snow Polymer - Educational Innovations Inc: https://www.teachersource.com/product/instant-snow-polymer

• Tint the water with a drop of food coloring to make colored snow.
• Compare cold vs. warm water on swelling speed and final volume.
• Test tap vs. distilled vs. salty water and note differences in absorption and reusability.
• Scale up for a demo (graduated cylinder “eruption”) or down for individual cups.

• Do not eat the polymer; keep away from small children and pets.
• Avoid contact with eyes; wash hands after the activity.

• What kind of material is instant snow polymer, and why does it absorb so much water?
  1. It is a cross-linked, hydrophilic polymer (commonly sodium polyacrylate); its network and ionic groups attract and trap water within the gel.
• Why might freshly hydrated snow feel slightly warm, while an older sample feels cool?
  1. Initial hydration can be slightly exothermic; later, evaporation is endothermic and removes heat, making it feel cool.
• Is the swelling a chemical or physical change? Explain.
  1. Primarily a physical change (absorption and swelling) since no new substances are formed; the polymer network takes up water.
• Why does using distilled water help with dehydration and reuse?
  1. Fewer dissolved ions interfere with water release/uptake, so the polymer dries and rehydrates more effectively.