======Flaming Gummy Bear======


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**Materials: **{{$demo.materials_description}}\\
**Difficulty: **{{$demo.difficulty_description}}\\
**Safety: **{{$demo.safety_description}}\\
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**Categories:** {{$demo.categories}}
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**Alternative titles:** Screaming Gummy Bear
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====Summary====                   
{{$demo.summary}}



====Procedure====  
  -Set up a ring stand and clamp a borosilicate test tube so the open end points away from people and toward the fume hood interior.
  -Add about 5–7 g of potassium chlorate to the test tube.
  -Place a Bunsen burner beneath the test tube and heat until the solid fully melts to a clear liquid.
  -Using tongs, quickly drop a single gummy bear (or sugar sweet) into the molten oxidizer, then step back behind the shield.
  -Allow the reaction to run to completion before turning off the burner and letting the tube cool undisturbed.
  -After cooling, follow local hazardous waste procedures to dispose of residues.



====Links==== 
Flaming Gummy Bear - sciencefix: 
{{youtube>nEmCFumvG94?}}\\

The Sacrificial Gummy Bear - Potassium Chlorate for the Win - Jon Bergmann: 
{{youtube>hkaAEQtFAxs?}}\\

📄 Exploding Gummy Bears - CSUB: [[https://www.csub.edu/chemistry/_files/Exploding_Gummy_Bears.pdf]]\\


====Variations====
  *Test different candies (e.g., marshmallows, hard candies) of similar mass to compare vigor and duration of the reaction.




====Safety Precautions====
  *Teacher demonstration only; do not scale up the quantities.
  *Safety glasses and face shield required; flame-resistant lab coat and heat-resistant gloves recommended.
  *Perform in a functioning fume hood or or outside with a clear blast shield.
  *Keep all observers behind the demonstrator and at a safe distance; point the test tube opening away from people.
  *Be aware of bright, flashing light; individuals sensitive to light should not view directly.
  *Potassium chlorate is a strong oxidizer; keep away from organic materials and avoid contamination. Do not premix sugar with chlorate or grind them together.
  *Use only clean borosilicate glassware; inspect for cracks before heating.
  *Have appropriate fire suppression available; never cap the test tube.
  *Allow complete cooling before handling residues.  Waste can be washed down the sick.





====Questions to Consider====
  *Is the reaction endothermic or exothermic? (Exothermic)
  *What provides the oxygen that enables rapid combustion? (Decomposition of potassium chlorate to release oxygen gas)
  *Which species is oxidized and which is reduced? (Sugar is oxidized to carbon dioxide and water; chlorate is reduced to chloride)
  *Why is a purple or lilac flame sometimes observed? (Emission from excited potassium atoms/ions)
  *Why must the test tube be pointed away from the audience? (To prevent hot gases or ejecta from being directed toward people)
  *How would smaller candy pieces change the reaction rate? (Greater surface area increases the rate and intensity of the reaction)
  *Write a balanced overall equation for sucrose reacting with potassium chlorate. (C12H22O11 + 8 KClO3 → 12 CO2 + 11 H2O + 8 KCl)