"Screaming Jelly Babies" (British English), also known as "Growling Gummy Bears" (American and Canadian English), is one classroom chemistry demonstration variants of which are practised in schools around the world.[1] It is often used at open evenings to demonstrate the more light hearted side of secondary school science.[2][3]
The experiment shows the amount of energy there is in one piece of confectionery; jelly babies,[4] or gummy bears,[5] are often used for theatrics. Potassium chlorate, a strong oxidising agent rapidly oxidises the sugar in the candy causing it to burst into flames producing a "screaming" sound as rapidly expanding gases are emitted from the test tube.[6] The aroma of candy floss (cotton candy) is also given off.[citation needed]
Researchers in Japan developed a new headset in December 2011 that triggers different sounds as wearers close their jaws when eating which included the "heart breaking" squeals of masticated jelly babies.[7] Other carbohydrate or hydrocarbon containing substances can (also) be dropped into test tubes of molten chlorate, with similar results.[8][9]
References
- ^ "Growling Gummy Bears". BYU Lecture Prep. Brigham Young University. 22 March 2014. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
- ^ "CHEMISTRY 11 DEMONSTRATIONS" (PDF). wikieducator.org. 22 July 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
- ^ "YouTube videos to ignite science". bbc.co.uk. 1 December 2008. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
- ^ "Lubbock Christian University: Can a Gummy Bear Scream?". seatfansclub.com. 22 March 2014. Archived from the original on 22 March 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
- ^ "5.5 Oxidation of Sugar or Gummi Bear with Potassium Chlorate". Chemical Reactions II: Oxidation/Reduction. University of Massachusetts Lecture Demonstrations. 22 March 2014. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
- ^ "Screaming Jelly Baby Experiment - Student Science". urn1350.net. 16 January 2012. Archived from the original on 9 February 2012. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
{{cite web}}:|archive-date=/|archive-url=timestamp mismatch; 22 July 2012 suggested (help) - ^ "Sensory marketing: the brands appealing to all five senses". theguardian.com. 27 October 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
- ^ "Jelly Babies". youtube.com. 24 January 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
- ^ "The University of Nottingham's Periodic Table of Videos". youtube.com. 18 November 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
Further reading
- Isherwood, Richard Myers & Bob (2006). World changing ideas. New York: Saatchi & Saatchi. p. 128. ISBN 9780955304606.
- Martin, Jade (2 November 2011). "Teachers sweeten up chemistry". The Daily Advertiser. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
- Maxwell, George (2008). Chemistry Demonstrations For High-School Teachers. Lulu.com. pp. 19–20. ISBN 9780955684302.
- The howling/screaming jelly baby (Report). Royal Society of Chemistry.