"dsi1" > wrote in message
...
> On 4/15/2010 12:01 PM, George Leppla wrote:
>> http://www.snopes.com/science/microwave.asp
>>
>>
>> A friend sent me the above link. Apparently if the conditions are right,
>> you can cause water to explode by heating it in a microwave.
>
> Just as water can be cooled below its freezing point and remain a liquid,
> it can also be brought to a temperature above its boiling point without
> boiling. "Explode" is a bit of an exaggeration. Mostly, it boils and spits
> a bit and flows over the container. This can happen if water of high
> purity is heated in a clean cup or glass in a microwave. Make sure you try
> this at home kids! :-)
>
>>
>> George L

Once I pulled a cup of reheated coffee out of the microwave. It looked
normal. I put some sugar on it, and it boiled and foamed and spit all over
the counter, like one of those teenage science volcano projects.

Steve