Dropping a Five Pound Gummy Bear Into Boiling KClO₃ Creates a Giant Oozing Fireball of Terror

Yay, science?

Recommended Videos

Maybe it’s because I just watched Akira last night, but this video is triggering very uncomfortable flashbacks. Not to that scene with the giant creepy stuffed bear, either — to the end of the movie. Of course, I’m just sensitive. Those who haven’t just had their brains blown out with body horror will probably dig this explosion.

As any good chemistry student knows, when you heat potassium chlorate and drop something with sugar in it — like a gummy bear, for example — the thermal decomposition produces potassium chloride and a whole lot of oxygen, which violently oxidizes the sugar in the bear and sets it on fire with the righteous fury of a thousand suns. Most people try this experiment using regular-shaped gummy bears, but since novelty website Vat19 has these giant ones at their disposal, they went a bit of a different direction.

This isn’t the first time Vat19 has subjected their five pound, fifty-one serving, 6,120 calorie candy to rigorous abuse disguised as scientific testing. In previous videos they’ve also attempted to blend them, kick them, and do all sorts of really horrific things. Tetsuo would be so proud.

(via Laughing Squid)

Meanwhile in related links


The Mary Sue is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more
related content
Read Article We Had No Idea ATEEZ Had This Many Albums, Did You?
ATEEZ all members in the Bouncy Music Video.
Read Article Chris Pratt Has Given the Internet a Completely New Reason To Be Pissed Off at Him
Chris Pratt as James Reece in The Terminal List
Read Article Ellen DeGeneres Complaining About Being Canceled on a Major Public Platform? Groundbreaking.
Dakota Johnson on Ellen
Read Article ‘Mindless Self Indulgence’ Controversy Explained
Jimmy Urine and Lyn-Z of American band Mindless Self Indulgence perform on stage at the Reading Festival, England on August 24 2008. (Photo by Nigel Crane/Redferns)
Read Article Sophia Bush Comes Out as Queer and the Discourse Is Too Much
Sophia Bush at the 2024 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books.
Related Content
Read Article We Had No Idea ATEEZ Had This Many Albums, Did You?
ATEEZ all members in the Bouncy Music Video.
Read Article Chris Pratt Has Given the Internet a Completely New Reason To Be Pissed Off at Him
Chris Pratt as James Reece in The Terminal List
Read Article Ellen DeGeneres Complaining About Being Canceled on a Major Public Platform? Groundbreaking.
Dakota Johnson on Ellen
Read Article ‘Mindless Self Indulgence’ Controversy Explained
Jimmy Urine and Lyn-Z of American band Mindless Self Indulgence perform on stage at the Reading Festival, England on August 24 2008. (Photo by Nigel Crane/Redferns)
Read Article Sophia Bush Comes Out as Queer and the Discourse Is Too Much
Sophia Bush at the 2024 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books.