Tapioca flour, also called tapioca starchĮxtra: Substitute the tapioca flour by another flour like corn starch, potato starch, or wheat flour.The addition of heat changed the particles. With time, it will lose water and become stiffer, but no matter how long you wait, it will never turn into starch particles again. When this solution cools, it becomes more gel-like. This process is called starch gelatinization. The smaller pieces then create new connections and form a network that can hold water.

Starch particles swell and break apart when mixed with hot water. When you leave the goo out, the water will evaporate and you will have your starch particles again. Note that the starch particles do not change when mixed with cold water. This type of mixture is called a suspension, and the suspension of starch in cold water is often referred to as goo or Oobleck. When these particles are mixed with cold water, they disperse and float around in the water.

Starch particles are a large number of glucose units – the sugar that rushes through your blood to give your cells energy – joined together. Unlike wheat flour which contains starches, protein, and fiber, tapioca flour only contains starch, and the secret to making bubbles lies in the way starch particles interact with water. The bubbles in bubble tea -also called boba or tapioca pearls- are made from tapioca flour, a starch extracted from the Cassave plant. To find a science fair project that is just right for you, browse our library of over 1,200 Science Fair Project Ideas or use the Topic Selection Wizard to get a personalized project recommendation. Good science fair projects have a stronger focus on controlling variables, taking accurate measurements, and analyzing data. This activity is not recommended for use as a science fair project.

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