The Chemistry of the Dancing Gummy Bears

 by Harvey Xu

The Dancing Gummy Bear Experiment is a captivating demonstration that takes an ordinary, everyday item - a gummy bear - and turns it into the centrepiece of a spectacular chemical performance. This experiment provides a fascinating look into the world of chemical reactions and the concept of energy transformation, all conveyed through the combustion of a simple sugar-based candy. The resulting reactions are a combustion process triggered by the candy's sugar content and the abundance of oxygen creating a fiery display of light and movement, appearing as though the gummy bear is 'dancing.' This experiment offers a tangible, engaging way to understand fundamental chemical principles which illustrates the energy stored in sugar molecules and its explosive release when conditions are right.

The entirety of the experiment primarily involves a gummy bear and a strong oxidizer, typically potassium chlorate. Potassium chlorate, when heated, decomposes into potassium chloride and oxygen gas. This is an example of a decomposition reaction. Decomposition reactions are characterised by the breakdown of a single compound into two or more simpler substances. In the case of potassium chlorate, the decomposition equation can be represented as follows: 

2KClO3 (potassium chlorate) → 2KCl (potassium chloride) + 3O2 (oxygen) 

The gummy bear, composed mainly of sucrose (a type of sugar), plays a key role in the next stage of the experiment. Sucrose is a combustible material, meaning it can burn. When the gummy bear is added to the test tube containing the heated oxygen-rich potassium chlorate, a combustion reaction occurs. Combustion is another fundamental chemical process and involves a substance (known as the fuel) reacting with an oxidising agent (oxygen in this case) to produce heat and light. For the gummy bear, this reaction transforms the sucrose into water vapour, carbon dioxide, and energy. The simplified version of the reaction is represented as: 2

C12H22O11 (sucrose) + 12O2 (oxygen) → 12CO2 (carbon dioxide) + 11H2O (water) + energy 

The energy released during the combustion reaction appears as light and heat, creating a spectacular display of bright flickering light and rapid movement of the gummy bear remnants. This phenomenon, which gives the illusion of the gummy bear dancing, has led to the name "Dancing Gummy Bear Experiment." This experiment now offers significant educational value as it vividly illustrates the stored energy within sugar molecules and how a combustion reaction can release this energy. Moreover, it provides a demonstration of decomposition and combustion reactions which are two fundamental concepts in chemistry.