Slime is pretty cool, but have you ever wished it could do something even cooler? Well, this magnetic slime recipe is like regular slime — but with a super-powered twist! Add a little science magic (spoiler: it’s iron oxide powder) and watch your slime come to life with a magnet. It stretches, oozes, and even crawls across the table when you move a magnet nearby. It’s the ultimate mash-up of a hands-on STEM experiment and squishy sensory play.
Whether you’re making this as a fun science project or just want to wow your kids with something amazing, this DIY magnetic slime is sure to be a hit. We’ll show you how to make magnetic slime step-by-step, with the exact ingredients you need. So grab your supplies and let’s get into this positively magnetic activity!
How to Make Magnetic Slime
Materials:
Equipment:
Instructions:
Step 1: Find what you need
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Gather your supplies and materials.
Step 2: Mix the first ingredients
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Add 1/2 cup white glue to a medium sized bowl.
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Pour in 1/4 cup water and stir gently, until well combined.
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Add 1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda and stir well, until dissolved.
Step 3: Add the iron oxide
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Add 1/4 cup iron oxide powder. This is what’ll make your slime magnetic.Be careful not to touch the plain powder with your bare hands, as it can cause skin irritation. Wear gloves if you’re worried about touching it before it’s activated in the slime.
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Stir well, combining the powder into the glue mixture.It’ll start off grey and look like forbidden cookies and creme, but as you continue stirring it becomes a really deep black.
Step 4: Activate the slime
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Pour 2-1/2 teaspoons contact solution into the bowl.
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Stir and stir, until you can’t stir anymore. The slime will thicken and come away from the bowl.
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Pick up the slime and knead it, stretching it to fully work in the activator. It will be sticky at first.
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Continue stretching until the slime is no longer sticky. Add a few drops of contact solution at a time, if needed.
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Your magnetic slime is complete!Now have fun bringing magnets near it and seeing how it moves! You can also set a magnet on top of the slime and watch it get “eaten”!
Helpful Tips:
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Use caution with small magnets: Tiny disc-shaped neodymium magnets can pose a choking hazard for younger children. Always supervise during playtime!
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Larger bar magnets are safer for kids: And they’re also more fun and effective at moving the slime. Try to order the biggest ones you can reasonably afford.
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Handle iron oxide powder with care: It’s best to wear gloves and a mask when measuring and mixing the powder. This keeps the fine dust away from your skin and lungs. See more safety details in the section below.
What makes magnetic slime magnetic?
Magnetic slime gets its “superpowers” from a special ingredient called iron oxide. This powder is made of tiny particles of iron — yes, the same kind of metal that magnets stick to!
When you mix the iron oxide into your slime, it spreads all throughout. The iron particles don’t make the slime magnetic on their own, but when you bring a strong magnet close (like a neodymium magnet), something really cool happens. The magnet pulls on those tiny iron bits, and the slime starts to move!
It might stretch, wiggle, or even crawl toward the magnet. It looks like magic, but it’s actually science in action! The iron in the slime is reacting to the magnetic force, making your slime do things regular slime can’t. This is what makes it so fun to play with!
What type of magnets work with magnetic slime?
Regular magnets aren’t strong enough to move the slime. You’ll need neodymium magnets, also known as rare earth magnets. We attached the neodymium magnets to a horseshoe magnet for pictures, but by itself this magnet won’t affect the slime.
For best results, use larger neodymium magnets like a bar or cube. And be cautious, because these magnets are very strong. They can snap together quickly and pinch fingers, or even break if they collide too forcefully.
Is iron oxide powder safe to touch?
In small amounts, iron oxide is non-toxic, but the powder form can be harmful if inhaled or ingested, and may irritate skin.
Once the slime is fully mixed and activated, it’s safe to touch unless you have very sensitive skin or cuts on your hands. In that case, it’s best to wear gloves while playing.
And there you have it: magnetic slime that stretches, wiggles, and “magically” moves with a magnet! Whether you’re diving into a science lesson or just looking for an awesome twist on regular slime, this experiment is sure to attract a lot of attention (haha).
It’s soft and stretchy, packed with hands-on fun like regular slime, but the science behind it makes it even cooler! So grab those magnets, mix up your slime, and get ready to wow the kids with this seriously magnetic activity.
Here’s even more fun slime recipes:
