[fsdfst]

I have been give a list of metallic salts, and need to find out which metallic salts with sodium alginate solution makes the most elastic hydrogel. I need to form my hypothesis in a form of chemistry concepts.

It is given that Potassium permanganate will make a sodium alginate hydrogel with the highest elasticity. My thinking process is to dive into the chemical bound between the atoms and ions, and see what makes Potassium permanganate salt so special. Then I would be able to list the chemical formula of each of the metallic salts and their ions, and figure out which one would make the same (or as good as a) bound to form the best elastic hydrogel.

In other words, once I know "why" one makes the best hydrogel, then I can figure out if other metallic salts would be able to do the same.

Can you give me details on the atomic level of what happens with Potassium permanganate and sodium alginate hydrogel that makes it the highest elasticity.

Thanks

[Arkcon]

I don't have an answer for you, but I do have many questions, and maybe that will help the discussion along:

How are you measuring elasticity of a hydrogel, in a high school classroom-type environment?

How does potassium permanganate work on the hydrogel to increase elasticity?  You start out wanting to test metal ions, which one do you mean, potassium, manganese, or the permanganate ion?

Can you give me details on the atomic level of what happens with Potassium permanganate and sodium alginate hydrogel that makes it the highest elasticity.

I'm betting not.  Its very hard work to understand chemical processes "at the atomic level."  People don't always do that for mundane applications.  We tend to study things in bulk, from multiple conditions, then try to extrapolate what's happening at the lowest levels.