Plastic Chemistry Set

In this Instructable, we will be focusing on making a water molecule (H2O) out of scrap plastic bottles.

Supplies

Lots of scrap bottles, big two-liter bottles, small half-liter ones and bottle caps!

For the water molocule you will need

1 Two litre bottle

3 Half litre bottles

A sharp knife

A scissors

A lighter

Bottle caps

Step 1: Cutting the Oxygen Atom

Cut around the neck and base of the two-litre bottle using scissors (make sure to cut away from your body to avoid injury).

Fold the neck of the plastic bottle into the base. It should fit in nice and snug. However it will pull apart really easily, this will be fixed once we have the hydrogen atoms attached.

Step 2: Making the Hydrogen Atom

Simply repeat the last step twice on your half-litre bottles. Then cut around the neck and base and push them into each other.

Step 3: Making the Connecting Bond

With the remaining piece of the half-litre bottles, the middle parts, cut a single fine line down the side to help roll it into a cylinder-like shape. These are the bonds that you will use to connect your hydrogen atoms to your carbons atoms to form a water molecule

Step 4: Attaching the Atoms

Use the rolled-up pieces to trace the hole you need in the base of the bottle using a marker. Then cut your hole with a sharp knife. This should be done under the supervision of an adult.

Cut the top threaded part off the top of your remaining half-litre bottle. Place this into the hole you have cut. Then screw your cap (which is acting like a nut) onto the threaded top (which is acting like a bolt)

Step 5: Weaving the Oxygen Atom Together P1

Mark and cut a thin strip around the top of the oxygen atom base. This strip will be used to weave the oxygen atom together to give it extra strength.

Step 6: Weaving the Oxygen Atom Together P2

Mark the base of the oxygen atom as shown in the picture. Using a sharp knife cut a slit in the base on the marked lines. With the top piece placed in the base using the sharp knife mark top piece. Then remove the top piece and cut where you have scored.

Using your strip of plastic weave it into the stilts you have made. This provides a strong bond that unlike glue can be removed easily.

Step 7: Assembly!

Before weaving the oxygen atom together screw in the cap. For bonus points, you can place a few bottle caps of the same colour inside to help differentiate the types of atoms. For example, use green bottle caps for oxygen and blue bottle caps for hydrogen.

Roll up your connecting tubes and attach the hydrogen atoms to your oxygen base and your'e finished!