From ds122945 at yahoo.com Thu Oct 21 22:23:16 2010 From: ds122945 at yahoo.com (Dennis Stevenson) Date: Thu, 21 Oct 2010 21:23:16 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [PreWar] Fw: CHECK THIS OUT - BOILING WATER - Message-ID: <44314.11552.qm@web63803.mail.re1.yahoo.com> From:B Sent: Thursday, October 21, 2010 10:07 AM Subject: FW: CHECK THIS OUT - BOILING WATER - B ________________________________ Date: Thu, 14 Oct 2010 19:03:15 -0700 Subject: Fwd: FW: CHECK THIS OUT - BOILING WATER - > >Subject: CHECK THIS OUT - BOILING WATER - > > >in case you don't know....... > > > >Science 101b&and NO most of us did NOT know thisb&look, read, and learnb& >>> >>>B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B >>> >>>B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B Microwaving B Water! >>>A B 26-year old man decided to have aB cup of coffee. He took a cup of B water and >>>put it in the microwave to heat it up (something that he B had done numerous >>>times before). I am not sure how long he set theB timer for, but he wanted to >>>bring the water to a boil. When the B timer shut the oven off, he removed the cup >>>from the oven. As heB looked into the cup, he noted that the water was not >>>boiling, but suddenly the water in the cup 'blew up' into his face. The cup >>>remained intact until he threw it out of his hand, but all the B water had flown >>>out into his face due to the buildup of energy. B His whole face is blistered and >>>he has 1st and 2nd degree burns toB his face which may leave scarring. >>> >>>He also may have lostB partial sight in his left eye.B While at the hospital, the >>>doctor who was attending to him stated that this is a fairly common B occurrence >>>and water (alone) should never be heated in aB microwaveB oven. If water is heated >>>in this manner, something should be B placed in the cup to diffuse the energy >>>such as a wooden stir B stick, tea bag, etc.., (nothing metal). >>> >>>General B Electric's Response: >>> >>>Thanks for contacting us, I will be happy to assist you. The e-mail thatB you >>>received is correct. B Microwaved water and other liquids do notB always bubble >>>when they reach the boiling point. They can actually B get superheated and not >>>bubble at all. The superheated liquid willB bubble up out of the cup when it is >>>moved or when something like a spoon or tea bag is put into it. >>> >>>To prevent this from B happening and causing injury,B do not heatB any liquid for >>>more thanB two minutes per cup. After heating, let the cup stand in the microwave >>>forB thirty seconds! before moving it or adding anything into it. >>> >>>Here is what our local scienceB teacher had to say on the matter: 'Thanks for the >>>microwave B warning. I have seen this happen before. It is caused by a >>>B phenomenon known as super heating. It can occur anytime water isB heated >>>andB will particularly occurB if the vessel that theB water is heated in is new, or >>>when heating a small amount of water B (less than half a cup). >>> >>>What happens is that theB water heats faster than the vapor bubbles can form. If >>>the cup is very new then it is unlikely to have small surface scratches inside >>>it that provide a place for the bubbles to form. B As theB bubbles cannot form and >>>release some of the heat has built up, theB liquid does not boil, and the liquid >>>continues to heat up well past its boiling point. >>> >>>What then usually happens is thatB the liquid is bumped or jarred, which is just >>>enough of a shock toB cause the bubbles to rapidly form and expel the hot liquid. >>>The rapid formation of bubbles is also why aB carbonated beverageB spews B when >>>opened after having been B shaken.' >>> >>>If B you pass this onB B you could very well save someone from a lot of pain and >>>B suffering.