9.29.2010

Exploding gummy bears

This science experiment has been waiting for months to happen. Nate ordered the materials a loooong time ago. We waited and waited for them to come in the mail. Finally Nate contacted the company after about a month of waiting. Turns out, you need to fill out a HAZMAT form so that the chemicals can be mailed. So then we waited some more. Finally, the package arrived in the mail. So we could try out some exploding gummy bears.

First mix a couple chemicals. Making sure that you are in a well ventilated area of course.
Heat the chemicals in the test tube until they liquify.
Add a couple gummy bears.
And stand back.

The first time, the reaction was so violent, the gummy bears were catapulted back out of the test tube. (Flaming, flying, molten gummy bears=not good.)
But the second try produced the desired reaction: adding them to the liquid chemical turned them into flaming balls of sugar, no fire added.
Next time we won't use so much chemical and we'll do it more than twice.
Our neighbors must think we're a little nuts. Lots of things are blowing up in our back yard.