Screaming jelly babies facts for kids
The "Screaming Jelly Babies" experiment is a super fun chemistry demonstration. It's often done in schools to show how much energy is hidden in candy! You might also hear it called "Growling Gummy Bears." This experiment uses a special chemical to make a jelly baby or gummy bear burst into flames. It even makes a "screaming" sound and smells like cotton candy!
What Happens in the Experiment?
This cool experiment shows how much energy is stored in just one piece of candy. People often use jelly babies or gummy bears because they make the demonstration really exciting.
The Science Behind the Scream
The main chemical used is called Potassium chlorate. This chemical is a very strong "oxidising agent." Think of it like a super-helper for burning things. It quickly reacts with the sugar inside the candy. This fast reaction makes the candy burst into flames!
As the candy burns, it creates gases that expand very quickly. These gases rush out of the test tube, making a "screaming" sound. You might also notice a sweet smell, a bit like candy floss (or cotton candy).
Other Sugary Snacks
You can also drop other things that contain sugar or similar ingredients into the hot potassium chlorate. They will usually react in a similar way. This shows that many different sugary snacks have a lot of energy stored inside them.
See also
In Spanish: Gominolas gritonas para niños
