Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Chemistry => Topic started by: paul.fr on 19/02/2008 00:05:09

Title: The chemistry of chewing gum.
Post by: paul.fr on 19/02/2008 00:05:09

What's in chewing gum that makes it so sticky, that to clean it from the street the council have to use high pressure hoses?

Title: The chemistry of chewing gum.
Post by: Karen W. on 19/02/2008 01:11:27

gum used to come from the sap of a tree.. we have gum trees here that for years were used to make gum from their sticky sap.. I don't know what they use these days!

Title: The chemistry of chewing gum.
Post by: neilep on 19/02/2008 02:09:23

 As a side note to this excellent thread by Mr Paul......We have a bloke here in Barnet who spends his time decorating the chewing gum and changing it to art. I'm taking about the hard flat trodden into stuff. He uses each one as a canvas an creates extraordinary designs.

Title: The chemistry of chewing gum.
Post by: Karen W. on 19/02/2008 02:34:52

Thats very cool.. is it sanitary! Are they his own gum wads? LOL

Title: The chemistry of chewing gum.
Post by: Carolyn on 19/02/2008 04:43:10

Quote from: neilep on 19/02/2008 02:09:23

As a side note to this excellent thread by Mr Paul......We have a bloke here in Barnet who spends his time decorating the chewing gum and changing it to art. I'm taking about the hard flat trodden into stuff. He uses each one as a canvas an creates extraordinary designs.

Ha ha.  It's funny you should mention that. Someone sent Ashley (I think one of her art professors) a photo and a link a few weeks ago of discarded chewing gum art.  She forwarded it to me, which I've since deleted.  I couldn't find the same link she sent me, but I found another site by the same artist. 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rahid1/sets/286517/

This has to be the same guy Neil, it's in the right area and I can't imagine more than one person doing this.

Title: The chemistry of chewing gum.
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 19/02/2008 08:39:05

How coarse.

Title: The chemistry of chewing gum.
Post by: neilep on 19/02/2008 21:44:54

Quote from: Carolyn on 19/02/2008 04:43:10

Quote from: neilep on 19/02/2008 02:09:23

As a side note to this excellent thread by Mr Paul......We have a bloke here in Barnet who spends his time decorating the chewing gum and changing it to art. I'm taking about the hard flat trodden into stuff. He uses each one as a canvas an creates extraordinary designs.

Ha ha.  It's funny you should mention that. Someone sent Ashley (I think one of her art professors) a photo and a link a few weeks ago of discarded chewing gum art.  She forwarded it to me, which I've since deleted.  I couldn't find the same link she sent me, but I found another site by the same artist. 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rahid1/sets/286517/

This has to be the same guy Neil, it's in the right area and I can't imagine more than one person doing this.

That's the guy !...I went to school with him  !..Thanks Carolyn !

*le sigh* my claim to fame !

Title: The chemistry of chewing gum.
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 19/02/2008 22:26:23

I went to school with a barrister-now-TV-presenter, 1 of the country's most prominent bio-geneticists, and an ex-First-Secretary-To-The-Treasury. Neil has a gum-painter.  [::)]

Title: The chemistry of chewing gum.
Post by: neilep on 19/02/2008 22:43:59

Quote from: DoctorBeaver on 19/02/2008 22:26:23

I went to school with a barrister-now-TV-presenter, 1 of the country's most prominent bio-geneticists, and an ex-First-Secretary-To-The-Treasury. Neil has a gum-painter.  [::)]

I think it speaks for itself as to whom should hang their head in shame !! [;D]

Title: The chemistry of chewing gum.
Post by: paul.fr on 20/02/2008 15:59:56

Quote from: DoctorBeaver on 19/02/2008 22:26:23

I went to school with a ...........

I went to school with someone who answers questions, wish he was still around!