[BITList] Microwave n water

[Malcolm]

Here is one for our engineers in the group. Ena and I have had a microwave
ever since they came out (Not the same one) and we have never just tried to
boil plain water in it but coffee yes, probably three times a day. Anyone
agree with this email or is it bullshit?

 

 

  This  is something many of us did not  know........!!!! 

 





            Microwaving  Water!
A  26-year old man decided to have a  cup  of 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 timer  for, but
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, 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 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 also may 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 should be  placed in the cup
to diffuse the energy such as  a wooden stir stick, tea bag, etc, (nothing
metal).

General  Electric's Response:

Thanks  for contacting us; I will be happy to assist  you. The e-mail that
you received is correct.  Microwaved water and other liquids do not always
bubble when they reach boiling point. They can  actually get superheated and
not bubble at all.  The superheated liquid will 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 happening and causing injury,  do not heat any liquid
for more than  two minutes per cup. After heating, let  the cup stand in the
microwave for thirty  seconds before moving it or adding anything  into it.

Here is what a local high school  science teacher had 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, or when heating a small amount of  water (less than half
a cup).

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 it 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.

If  you pass this on, you could  very well save someone from a lot of pain
and  suffering.


 


 


 

 

-- 

Vijay  Singh

2743 Fieldcrest Ct.

Orlando, Fl .32839

407-369-2403
Skype Vijaysingh19

Helping hands are better than praying lips!
IMPORTANT: The contents of this email and any attachments are confidential.
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