What makes lifesavers spark

You can basically do this experiment just by eating Life Savers in the dark, or you can watch this video to see in slow-motion how it lights up after being smashed by a hammer. By subscribing, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time. But Does It Work? Culture Ugly Rockets?

Cancel reply. Your email address will not be published. I have been purchasing life savers for quite a while. The five flavors indicated are cherry raspberry watermelon orange and pineapple on the label but often they are mostly green and orange. It would be pleasant to get more pineapple and grape. Thank you for your time. Close Menu. Print Edition Send us a tip Biweekly Polls.

Submit Search. Archives Recently, a friend of mine showed me that if you bite into a Wint-O-Green Lifesaver, it makes a spark. Well, a Lifesaver is a Lifesaver, right? Can you tell me why it works with Wint-O-Green and not cherry? Are there any other flavors it works on? Chemical bonds in the sugar molecules are broken, providing energy for the electrons in some of the atoms to actually jump around and form positively charged nitrogen ions, which produce a blue or green luminescence.

Some ultraviolet energy visible with a black light is also produced from the methyl salicylate oil of wintergreen so that you will see a blue fluorescent color. Although these Life Savers do not contain methyl salicylate oil of wintergreen , they do contain menthol C 10 H 20 O and sugar. This phenomenon of triboluminescence can also be seen if you have two samples of milky quartz, which is frequently used in landscaping rocks.

Simply rub one crystal against the face flat side of the other crystal.