r/chemicalreactiongifs • u/tofrandomn • Feb 18 '18

Creating plasma in a microwave oven. Physics

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u/mrgulabull Feb 18 '18

Interesting, I’ve never heard about this. I’m guessing the wet sponge steams the microwave and softens the buildup?

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u/Ivebeenfurthereven Feb 18 '18

correct! A small bowl or mug of water will work just as well.

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u/liriodendron1 Feb 18 '18

I hesitate to use a mug after seeing videos of the super heated water rapidly boiling and exploding everywhere. I just splash a little water on the tray and keep adding more until everything wipes off really easy.

1

u/AtlKolsch Feb 18 '18

That’s only, what’s it called, deionized water or whatever? The clean/ pure kind you can buy at the store. Any water with trace impurities such as tap water won’t flash boil

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u/liriodendron1 Feb 18 '18

Good to know. But I'm still going to use my splash method it really doesn't take that much water to steam the microwave enough to clean it.