Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Chemistry => Topic started by: erickejah on 02/04/2010 20:12:44

Title: Can you turn a liquid into "marbles"?
Post by: erickejah on 02/04/2010 20:12:44

Is this true? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCeAfKCC2ng (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCeAfKCC2ng)

Title: Re: Can you turn a liquid into "marbles"?
Post by: Bored chemist on 03/04/2010 12:46:55

No.

Title: Can you turn a liquid into "marbles"?
Post by: erickejah on 03/04/2010 23:33:30

ok.

Title: Can you turn a liquid into "marbles"?
Post by: Shadec on 14/04/2010 04:04:45

well... I don't know if I would do it that way, but there are ways you can do it, it's apparently a culinary delicacy, somewhat like caviar. Its called spherification, though that large is a bit unfeasable. You normally use Calcium alginate, rather than acetate though.

I suspect what he has done is get those water-absorbing polymer spheres you can buy from florists, they hold water into jelly like spheres, very soft, very fun to play with.

I don't know about his explanations though, I don't think they're particularly accurate. and the font and music do nothing to add credence!

Sorry to contradict you Bored Chemist!

Title: Can you turn a liquid into "marbles"?
Post by: Bored chemist on 14/04/2010 06:55:30

There are two questions.
Can you tun  a liquid into marbles? and is the youtube video true?

You can certainly change liquid into marbles since all the ones I have seen are made of glass and glass is processed as a liquid.

That video is bollocks

Title: Can you turn a liquid into "marbles"?
Post by: Geezer on 15/04/2010 03:17:40

Quote from: Bored chemist on 14/04/2010 06:55:30

There are two questions.
Can you tun  a liquid into marbles? and is the youtube video true?

You can certainly change liquid into marbles since all the ones I have seen are made of glass and glass is processed as a liquid.

That video is bollocks

I suppose it's a lot of balls any way you look at it. (OK, OK! Don't shove. I was just about to leave anyway.)

Title: Can you turn a liquid into "marbles"?
Post by: Shadec on 15/04/2010 06:17:35

haha good ones you two!

Well, like I said, marbles, as in the glass spheres, nope. not a chance.
But as far as the spherification or polymer spheres, then thats different. but spherification that large would be nigh impossible (in my opinion).

So insofar as doing what he says, then as Bored Chemist says, the video is 'Bollocks' (best word ever by the way! it doesn't get used enough here is Australia)