In article >, "P.Aitken"
> wrote:
>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.

Yeah. I realised that when thinking more about it while dozing off
last night. The "jumping" is a consequence, not a solution. (Pun
noted, but not intended.

>> 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. ;-)

Cheers, Phred.

--
LID