If you swallow a handful of Pop Rocks and chug a soda, you'll probably burp, but you won't die. If Mikey barely tried Life cereal, why would he eat Pop Rocks anyway? How exactly do Pop Rocks work? Pop Rocks are a hard candy that has been gasified with carbon dioxide using a patented process. The solution is heated until the water boils off and combined with carbon dioxide gas at about pounds per square inch psi.
When the pressure is released, the candy shatters into small pieces, each containing bubbles of pressurized gas. If you examine the candy with a magnifying glass, you can see the tiny bubbles of trapped carbon dioxide. When you put Pop Rocks in your mouth, your saliva dissolves the candy, allowing the pressurized carbon dioxide to escape. It's the popping of the pressurized bubbles that makes the sizzling sound and shoots pieces of candy around in your mouth.
Except for the carbon dioxide, the ingredients are the same as those of any hard candy. The popping of the bubbles is dramatic, but you won't shoot candy into your lungs or chip a tooth or anything. Some researchers even suggest that the tingling, burning sensations associated with the perception of carbonation can be caused by CO 2 triggering pain receptors [4].
Would this mean our society's desire for carbonated food and drink has strangely evolved against a natural aversion to experiencing pain? Personally, I can't hear over the loud buzzing noises of Pop Rocks in my mouth to find out Note: Modified on September 19, The diagram illustrating taste detection of carbonation has been added in the current post.
References cited. Accessed 23 August Leon K, Mitchell W Gasified confection and method of making the same. US Patent No. US A. Accessed 20 August Science Accessed 25 August University of Southern California. If you've ever dumped half a package of Pop Rocks in your mouth as a kid, chances are you can still clearly remember the glorious crackling and fizzing sensation. But because you were likely popping with your mouth wide open or daring your friends to eat them while drinking soda, you probably never stopped to wonder why they pop in the first place.
Thankfully, a new video from Today I Found Out offers a simple explanation of how the classic candy works. Interestingly, the near-instant popping reaction when the candy hits your tongue isn't caused by a special ingredient in Pop Rocks, but rather the process by which it's made. Pop rocks are made by heating the ingredients and then exposing to Carbon Dioxide a gas at very high pressures before allowing to cool.
Tiny bubbles of gas are trapped in the popping candy. When you put the candy in your mouth, saliva breaks it down and releases the carbon dioxide, which makes a popping sound. For more kitchen science ideas try on of our 50 kitchen science experiments! Science Sparks Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.
These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult.
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