Wednesday Wheel of Blog

 Spin, Spin, Spin, the Wheel of Blog...where it stops nobody knows!

Well, actually, I know where it stopped, but that's because I built it and spun it. My wheel of options is a variety of topics I want to discuss. The other days I have a plan for, but Wednesday is my change of topic day of the week.

This week, the wheel landed on...Science Time!

App: Spin the Wheel - Random Picker

Science Experiment: 'M' No More

This is by far one of my favorite science experiments to share. For the life of me, I can't remember where I first heard about it. I've been conducting the experiment for many years. So 'M' No More experiment involves this tasty treat.

Pictured above: Plain M & M's

What do I need?

You are going to need the following:

• A bag of plain M & M's
• Water
• Plastic container

Experiment time!

The experiment is to place an M & M face up (with the M staring up at you) into a small container of water.

Now before you start the experiment, think to yourself: What may happen during this experiment?

Okay! Now time for the experiment.

First, you must select a good M & M. Yes, it is possible to pick a "bad" one.

Notice the picture above. The arrows are pointing to good M & M's to use in the experiment. You want an M & M where the M is good and visible. The pieces of candy towards the top have none or very little of the M present.

Next, you are going to want to use warm or hot water. Don't use cold water.

After a minute, the color starts to separate from the candy. Now, for the cold water, this is all that happens. Even after 20 minutes, that's all that will happen with the use of cold water.

With the use of warm and hot water, you will find the same results with an added bonus.

As you notice from the two photos, when you put an M & M in a cup of hot or warm water, something happens to the M.

After the color melts away from the candy leaving its chocolate inside, the M separates from the candy and floats to the top of the water.

You will notice the M off the blue M & M broke up into pieces so you can't see the entire M.

However, the green M & M had its M separate almost perfectly. If you look to the left of the brown candy circle, you will see a smoky looking film with an M.

You get these results after only a few minutes of the chocolate pieces being in the water.

The coolest part of this experiment is trying the different water temperatures, different types of liquid, and even different types of M & M's.

Explanation of Experiment

The changes in the chocolate candy is due to water soluble characteristics. This means parts of the candy dissolve in water. With the candy in the water, the molecules of the water and the molecules of the solid candy meet. This causes the sugar coated coloring to dissolve from the candy.

But why does the M float?

Good question.

It's a simple answer. The M is made out of edible paper and was placed on the candy with edible glue. 

The letter M is less dense than the water which is why it floats up to the top of the water. If something is more dense when in water, it sinks. Since the M is less dense, it floats instead.

Look again at the picture above with the green M & M. Personally, it reminds me of newspaper or other strong paper floating on water.

And that is the 'M' No More Science Experiment!