I know this stuff is interesting and it’s definitely impressive to watch but I’m still waiting to see why it’s imperative that we know this. Unless you’re going to swallow a great amount of potassium chlorate, which isn’t recommended, and then go eating a handful of gummy bears it doesn’t seem like much more than an interesting trick. That’s the whole thing about it though really, the fact that it’s a fun science exhibit that can amuse people. Call me cynical but I’m more interested in science facts that have more practical applications and can be used in some way to help people or make life a little better.
Playing around with all things scientific isn’t a bad thing since it does stimulate the mind and keep things interesting. Plus, kids tend to really like the demonstrations and get a kick out of watching things react in this manner. Potassium chlorate is typically a white powdery substance that is used in fireworks and disinfectants, as well as safety matches. It tends to react when coming in contact with sugar, which will cause it to literally burn the sugar and create a billowing white smoke. This same substance is used when the Vatican declares a new pope, in which case a capsule with lactate and rosin will be used to create the same white smoke that declares that a pope has been selected.
Maybe my cynicism is jealousy since we didn’t have this kind of thing when I was a kid. The most chemistry I remember being exposed to was when we were allowed to use Bunsen burners to see what kind of color flames were produced when we burned different substances over an open flame. The school board didn’t really approve of that after a while since too many students took advantage and ruined it for the rest of us. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted. But aside from that the most fun I remember was when my high school chem teacher decided to give us a show by throwing a small chunk of sodium into a jar half-filled with water.
The resulting explosion was impressive and unfortunately the first and last one. It was impressive though to learn that it doesn’t take a lot of a substance to cause such a reaction sometimes. If you’ll notice they’re not using a lot of potassium chlorate, and the reaction that’s given off is intense enough that you can just imagine what might happen if there was a lot more.
Just think of what might happen if this stuff was tossed on one of those big, five-pound gummy bears. If this is producing that kind of intensity and energy the big ones might very well break whatever container they’re in from the release of so much energy. To think that so much is released from such a simple meeting of substances is hard to imagine but it’s very real. Thankfully I don’t think a lot of people will be ingesting potassium chlorate anytime soon, so it should still be safe enough to eat a gummy bear or two.
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