The Money Catalyst 

Materials: 

A dollar bill or even a larger denomination 

Or strips of paper of similar size and shape

Three or more regular paper clips, all of the same size

  

 

Future Quicktime Movie and photos of the demo to go here!

Procedure: 

loop one end of the dollar bill over far enough to place a paper clip on the bill and hold the loop in place. Next take the remaining end of the bill and loop in back until it touches the original loop created by the first clip. Now place a second paper clip at this point. Loop the bill back one more time and place a third chip on the bill. Now gently pull the ends of the bill to straighten it. In the process the three clips will join to form a chain, leaving the bill unchanged.

 

I have used small and large paper clips with similar results. I have also placed up to five clips on a bill. When using more than 3 clips, the clips do not always form a straight chain. I have used the resulting formation for quiz work and asked students to name the resulting organic chain.

Concept: 

A metaphor to help understand the role of a Catalyst

Source: 

Ron Bonnstetter, but he has forgotten who taught him.

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