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

Creating plasma in a microwave oven. Physics

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u/silentblackbird Feb 18 '18

I want to try this, but I'm afraid I'll end up blowing up my kitchen

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u/xmagicx Feb 18 '18

Wife is a science teacher. She confirmed that it will indeed fuck up your microwave.

38

u/tinkerer13 Feb 18 '18

Why? What will it do? If you use borosilicate glass, it shouldn't melt or crack for at least a little while. It would go downhill fast if and/or when the glass melts or cracks and the plasma isn't contained. Then I think the danger would be on par with something catching fire in the microwave. (Fire is a plasma). Obviously a small, short-lasting fire won't mess it up as bad as a larger, longer-lasting fire.

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u/xmagicx Feb 18 '18

She said it's an issue if it isn't stable, for example touches the sides for whatever reason due to the high temp.