Re: Heating water

[Guest guest]

A few years ago at work I turned away from a cup to get coffee out of the

cabinet when it blew. I was far enough not to be sprayed with the boiling

water. That's when someone at work told me about this reaction. I hardly

ever boil water in a microwave, but I did at work and we held the coffee in

a cabinet opposite to the microwave. Whenever I did it in the future I would

put a stirrer or a straw in the cup before boiling water. It diffuses that

reaction. Also, in many cases the " explosion " happens when the boiled water

is being touched by a spoon or a tea bag, or the coffee one is just

inserting.

You are right, this is very serious: face burn and lose of eyesight is

common with this occurrence.

Mojo

(no subject)

> Caution on Heating Water in the Microwave!!!!

>

> I DO THIS ALL THE TIME AND NEVER THOUGHT OF THIS

> COULD HAPPEN

>

>

>

>

>

> BENNIE

>

>

>

>

> I was very glad to get this email from a friend,

> because I have

>

> been guilty of heating water in a microwave many

> times. You'll be

>

> glad you read it. I also suggest passing it along to

> friends and family.

>

>

>

> About five days ago, my 26-year-old son decided to

> have a cup of

>

> instant coffee. He took a cup of water and put it in

> the microwave to heat it

>

> up (something that he had done numerous times before).

> I am not sure

>

> how long he set the time for but he told me he wanted

> to bring the water

>

> to a boil.

>

>

>

> When the timer shut the oven off, he removed the cup

> from the oven.

>

> As he looked into the cup he noted that the water was

> not boiling.

>

> Then instantly 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 water had flown out into his face! due to the

> build-up of energy.

>

> His whole face is blistered and he has 1st and 2nd

> degree burns to

>

> his face, which may leave scarring. He may also have

> lost partial sight

>

> in his left eye.

>

>

>

> While at the hospital, the doctor who was attending to

> him stated

>

> that this is a fairly common occurrence and water

> (alone) should never be

>

> heated in a microwave oven. If water is heated in this

> manner,

>

> something such as a wooden stir stick or a tea bag

> should be placed in the cup

>

> to diffuse the energy.

>

>

>

> Here is what our science teacher has to say on the

> matter:

>

> " Thanks for the microwave warning. I have seen this

> happen before. It

>

> is caused by a phenomenon known as super heating. It

> can occur any

>

> time water is heated and will particularly occur if

> the vessel that

>

> the water is heated in is new. What happens is that

> the 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 I! t

>

> that provide a place for the bubbles to form. As the

> bubbles cannot form

>

> and release some of the heat that has built up, the

> liquid does not

>

> boil, and the liquid continues to heat up well past

> its boiling point.

>

> What then usually happens is that the liquid is bumped

> or jarred,

>

> which is just enough of a shock to cause the bubbles

> to rapidly form

>

> and expel the hot liquid?

>

> The rapid formation of bubbles is also why a

> carbonated beverage

>

> spews when opened after having been shaken.

>

>

>

> Most everyone heats water in the microwave. Please

> pass this on

>

> to everyone you know, it could save a lot of pain and

> suffering.

>

>

>

>

> " The LUPIES Store " Come check out our store...

> http://www.cafepress.com/thelupies

>

> " The LUPIES Web Page "

> http://www.itzarion.com/lupusgroup.html

>

> " The LUPIES online photo albums! "

> Check out what your fellow Lupies look like...

> http://www.picturetrail.com/lupies

>