Microwave Hazards(A long but useful one)

Topic started by Sarah (@ phantom.pr.sun.com) on Thu Dec 13 20:56:31 .
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.


> The following information is received from a reliable source. Please
> circulate this to so many
> people for their precautionary measure.
>
>
> >I feel that the following is information that anyone who uses a
> > microwave oven to heat water should know. My friend decided to
> >have a cup of coffee. He took a cup of water and put it in the
microwave
> >to heat it up (something that he had done numerous times before). I am
> >not sure how long he set the timer for, but he told me he wanted to
bring
> >the water to a boil. When the timer shut the oven off, he removed the
cup
> >from the oven. As he looked into the cup, he noted that the water was
not
> >boiling, but instantly the water in the cup "blew up" into his face.
The
> >cup remained intact until he threw it out of his hand but all the water
> >had flown out into his face due to the build up of energy. His whole
face
> >is blistered and he has 1st and 2nd degree burns to his face, which may
> >leave scarring. He also may have lost partial sight in his left eye.
> >
> >While at the hospital, the doctor who was attending to him stated that
> >this is a fairly common occurrence and water (alone) should never be
> >heated in a microwave oven. If water is heated in this manner,
something
> >should be placed in the cup to diffuse the energy such as a wooden stir
> >stick, tea bag, etc. It is however a much safer choice to boil the
water
> >in a tea kettle.
> >
> >Please pass this information on to friends and family.
> >
> >General Electric's response:
> >
> >Thanks for contacting us, Mr. Williams. I will be happy to assist you.
> >The e-mail that you received is correct. Micro waved water and other
> >liquids do not always bubble when they reach the boiling point. They
can
> >actually get superheated and not bubble at all. The superheated liquid
> >will bubble up out of the cup when it is moved or when something like a
> >spoon or tea bag is put into it.
> >
> >To prevent this from happening and causing injury, do not heat any
> >liquid for more than two minutes per cup. After heating, let the cup
> stand >in the microwave for thirty seconds before moving it or adding
> anything
> >into it. >>I hope this helps. Should you need any further assistance,
> please
> >contact us.
> >
> >Here is what our local science teacher had to say on the matter:
> >"Thanks for the microwave warning. I have seen this happen before. It
is
> >caused by a phenomenon known as super heating. It can occur anytime
water
> >is heated and will particularly occur if the vessel that the water is
> >heated in is new, or when heating a small amount of water (less than
half
> a >cup).
> >
> >What happens is that the water heats faster than the vapor bubbles can
> >form? >If the cup is very new then it is unlikely to have small surface
> >scratches inside it that provide a place for the bubbles to form. As
the
> >bubbles cannot form and release some of the heat that has built up, the
> >liquid does not boil, and the liquid continues to heat up well past its
> >boiling point.
> >
> >What then usually happens is that the liquid is bumped or jarred, which
> >is just enough of a shock to cause the bubbles to rapidly form and
expel
> >the hot liquid. The rapid formation of bubbles is also why a carbonated
> >beverage spews when opened after having been shaken."
> >If you pass this on ... you could very well save someone from a lot of
> >pain and suffering.


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