Chemicals/Nuked Soap?
Advertisement
Question
Can you explain what's happening in this video?
http://www.holylemon.com/NukedSoap.html
Soap contains water, both in the form of water vapor inside trapped air bubbles (particularly important in the case of Ivory)and water that is caught up in the matrix of the soap itself.
The effect is caused by the heating of the water that is inside the soap. The water vaporizes, forming bubbles; the heat also causes trapped air to expand. Likewise, the heat causes the soap itself to soften and become pliable.
The result: the expanding gases form bubbles that stretch the softened soap, forming a large closed-shell foam. When the heating stops, the soap hardens again.
It's actually very similar to what happens when popcorn pops.
http://www.chemistry.org/portal/a/c/s/1/feature_ent.html?id=48a62f92effa11d6e2f0...
Related Articles
Henry Boyter
Expertise
No homework or other schoolwork! The question will be rejected. If you have not searched www.google.com, do so before posting. If you are a student, give your grade and course. Everyone, explain the purpose and context for the question.
Experience in the area
Chemistry (non-biochemistry), environmental science, occupational health and safety, environmental regulation and management, environmental engineering, and wastewater engineering. I'm the Director of Environmental, Health, and Safety and the Director of Research at the Institute of Textile Technology.
Experience
Chemistry (non-biochemistry), environmental science, occupational health and safety, environmental regulation and management, environmental engineering, and wastewater engineering. I'm the Director of Environmental, Health, and Safety and the Director of Research at the Institute of Textile Technology.
©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.