Washing the Jelly Baby!

Our nemesis, Mr J, asked for "The gear to demo - washing the jelly baby" the other week. Neither Senile or Evil Tech had a clue what he was going on about but luckily I came to the rescue (not for the first time, nor the last, I suspect). He obviously meant the classic 'Using Gears to Wash the Jelly Baby' experiment, I told them. They were both as befuddled as ever (although Senile tech looked in much the same state as always). Idiots.

I sketched them a quick diagram to see if it jogged their failing memories. A dim light shone in Evil technician's eyes, but I expect this was just her thinking of another plan to build to a torture device. And Senile tech didn't even give me that much. I really don't know why I bother sometimes.

It turned out, though, this was not what Mr J wanted. He actually wanted the screaming jelly baby demo, although why he called it washing the jelly baby only Mr J knows. (He is a bit weird if you ask me, not to mention a complete nuisance. Mrs J has a lot to answer for!)

For those of you that are interested, the screaming jelly baby demo is a very rapid exothermic reaction between molten potassium chlorate and sugar. At school we follow the CLEAPSS guidance on how to do this safely. It does look and smells amazing, but it's a waste of a good jelly baby if you ask me (sugar cubes work just as well), and rather cruel too.


As for the washing demo, well, it was a shame not to at least use some of it.

That hits the spot.