> > >I was very glad to get this email from a friend,
> > >because I have been guilty of heating water in a
> > >microwave many times. You'll be glad you read it. I
> > >also suggest passing it along to friends and family.
> > >
> > >About five days ago, my 26-year-old son decided to
> > >have a cup of instant 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. Then 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 may also 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 such as a
> > >wooden stir stick or a tea bag should be placed in the
> > >cup to diffuse the energy.
> > >
> > >Here is what our science teacher has 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 any time water is
> > >heated and will particularly occur if the vessel that
> > >the water is heated in is new.
> > >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.
> > >
> > >Please pass this on to everyone you know, it could
> > >save a lot of pain and suffering.
> >
> >