Do you know what happens when orange juice meets a balloon?
Balloons are popular with kids, and so are fruits like orange and grape. But playing with a balloon after having these fruits can be perilous if the kids don’t pay enough attention, the firefighting department of Jinshan District said as they brought a vivid laboratory tutorial to a local kindergarten.
“When you squeeze or spray orange juice on a balloon, it pops. Many children don't know the fact and sometimes, careless as they can be, it hurts or scares them,” said Jiang Lei, an officer of the firefighting department.
The reaction is the result of limonene – an essential oil which gives orange their sweet fragrance – dissolving or weakening the rubber balloon.
It is fun learning science through daily life, Jiang said, but he also warned the kids and parents to be cautious when playing with balloons, as they can damage the eyes or hands when they pop.
