On 4/16/2010 9:23 AM, Default User wrote:
> > 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! :-)
>
> Doesn't even have to be that clean of a cup to get some reaction. When I
> make tea in the afternoon, I put the water in a cup in the microwave until
> bubble start coming up from below. If you stick a coffee stirrer or
> something into the cup at that point, it will boil furiously (and overflow
> the cup).
>

Wish I could make water explode - that would add some excitement to my
dull life. I don't mind 1st degree burns too much either, I get that all
the time when cooking.

I've been making coffee by heating water in a small French press in the
microwave. You'd think that clean water heated in a narrow glass
cylinder would make for ideal conditions. Unfortunately, the water has
always been boiling by the time I take it out. Oh joy - another boring
day. :-)

>
>
> Brian
>
>