What Makes Gummy Bears Explode?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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A gummy bear is dropped into an ignition tube containing a small amount of

molten potassium or sodium chlorate

. The gummy bear is rapidly consumed in a ball of fire liberating a lot of smoke in the process. … The molten potassium chlorate decomposes liberating oxygen, also an endothermic process.

What causes gummy bears to expand?

Science behind Growing Gummy Bears

in water, what happens? because

there are more sugar molecules in the Gummy Bear than in the water

. The Gummy Bear grows bigger!

What is the chemical equation for gummy bear explosion?

So, in all, we have two reaction taking place here; the decomposition of the metal chlorates into a metal chloride and oxygen gas (2KClO

3 ( S )

→ KCl

( s )

+ 3O

2 ( g )

) when heated, and the sugar (gummy bear) reacting with the oxygen gas to produce carbon dioxide and water

(C

12

H

22

O

11 ( s )

+ 12 O

2 ( g )

→12 CO

2 ( g )

+ 11 H

2

O

( g )

)

.

What liquid makes gummy bears expand the most?


The water soaked gummy bear

grew the biggest. It changed an average of 24.67%.

Why does potassium chlorate react with gummy bears?

Summary: When heated,

potassium chlorate decomposes, producing sufficient oxygen to ignite the sugar

in the gummy bear. Since the oxidation of the sugar is very exothermic, sodium chlorate continues to decompose to oxygen, and the rate of combustion becomes very rapid.

What happens when a gummy bear is left in water?

If a gummy bear is placed in water, then

the gummy bear will swell

. If a gummy bear is then placed in a higher salt water concentration, then the gummy bear will decrease in volume and mass. . .. … When placed in water, a hypotonic solution, the gummy bear will expand in size and volume due to the water entering it.

Can gummy bears grow?

Growing gummy bears is a fun! All you have to do is leave gummy bears in water, and the

grow to be gigantic

! … of the bears after leaving them in water for different amounts of time.

Do gummy bears explode?

Just how much can be qualitatively demonstrated by “The Exploding Gummy Bear” as titled by Sonia, or more accurately by “The

Rapid Oxidation of Sugar

.” … The sugar present in the gummy bear undergoes rapid oxidation forming carbon dioxide and water, assuming complete combustion, a very exothermic process.

What happens when you light gummy bears on fire?

When heated, the potassium chlorate dissolves in its own water of hydration to form a liquid form of potassium chlorate. The potassium

chlorate then reacts with and ignites the sugar

in the gummy bear. The gummy bear releases all the energy it has along with carbon, water, and carbon dioxide.

How do you do the gummy bear experiment?

Fill the glass labeled sugar water with one-half cup of water. Add and mix in one tablespoon of sugar until all the sugar has dissolved. Add a gummy bear to each glass and note the time. Wait 12 hours, measure and weigh each gummy bear.

What liquid dissolves gummy bears the fastest?

OUR DISSOLVING GUMMY BEAR OBSERVATIONS

The

salt water

was the winner and dissolved the gummy bear the fastest. The oil did not change the gummy treats at all.

What happens when you put gummy bears in vinegar?

In vinegar, the gummy bear got bigger, but it also started to fall apart, and that’s because of

the acid in vinegar which can dissolve gelatine

. Because the acid breaks down gelatin, there is room for more water to enter the gummy. The gummy bears do not grow as large in the baking soda and salt water.

How do I make my gummy bigger?

  1. Fill two of your bowls with cool water. …
  2. Add the salt to the first bowl. …
  3. Plop one gummy bear into each bowl. …
  4. Set aside a third gummy as your experimental control. …
  5. Wait for three hours.
  6. Check back in on your waterlogged candies. …
  7. (Optional) Take some measurements. …
  8. Wait another six hours.

Is potassium chlorate and gummy bear chemical change?

A chemical change (

combustion reaction

) as opposed to a physical change (melts in your mouth, not in your hands). Potassium Chlorate is a strong oxidizer. Materials: Gummi Bears.

Can I buy potassium chlorate?


You can buy it

, but it’s easy to make potassium chlorate at home using ordinary household bleach (sodium hypochlorite) and salt substitute (potassium chloride).

Rebecca Patel
Author
Rebecca Patel
Rebecca is a beauty and style expert with over 10 years of experience in the industry. She is a licensed esthetician and has worked with top brands in the beauty industry. Rebecca is passionate about helping people feel confident and beautiful in their own skin, and she uses her expertise to create informative and helpful content that educates readers on the latest trends and techniques in the beauty world.