Phred wrote:

> In article . com>, "Jude" > wrote:
>
>>Phred wrote:
>>
>>>Recalling days of chem prac decades ago, I've sometimes wondered if
>>>the "glass bead" principle would work with boiling eggs. Haven't
>>>actually tried (don't have any glass beads -- and I suspect the lab
>>>size would soon all be gone down the plug hole if I did have some
>>>but maybe I will one day -- if I ever get around to buying a pack of
>>>those cheap marbles from Coles Variety or wherever. They might be too
>>>big relative to the size of the eggs though; could just get the whole
>>>caboodle bouncing around!
>>
>>Explain the glass bead principle, please.
>
>
> We used a few glass beads in flasks/beakers when heating solutions in
> chem prac. The idea seemed to be that the bouncing beads would
> prevent the container jumping around when the liquid started to boil.
> (The beads themselves performed pretty well though.
>

This is not why the beads are used. Your next para explains the actual
reason.

> The correct type of bead will also prevent superheating -- and could
> be used in more modern times to prevent superheating of liquids in
> microwave ovens. (Though I don't know of anyone who does this. ;-)
>

Peter
>