[Image above] Lollipops are an example of candy glass, or desserts that consist mainly of sugar in a glassy state. Credit: DDGuy, Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Over the next few days, neighborhoods around the United States will find themselves swarming with witches, pirates, and superheroes as kids participate in Halloween trick-or-treat nights throughout the country.
Chocolate-based candies are likely top of mind for many children planning their goody haul. But for parents looking to weave some science learning into the holiday activities, cotton candy and lollipops can provide insights into glass science!
Cotton candy and lollipops are examples of candy glass, or desserts that consist mainly of sugar in a glassy state. Basic candy glass can be made easily at home using common kitchen ingredients, including cane sugar, corn syrup, and water.
The candy making process provides numerous opportunities to learn about common glass processing methods and material properties, including fiber pulling, composition, and refractive index.
If you are not sure how to set up a candy glass experiment, you are in luck. The Ceramic and Glass Industry Foundation (CGIF) of The American Ceramic Society just released a new Glass Science Kit that includes a lesson on making candy glass!
Developed in honor of the United Nations International Year of Glass 2022, the Glass Science Kit features three demonstrations to introduce students to glass and its unique properties. The instructional manuals for each lesson can be downloaded for free from the CGIF website.
While the candy glass lesson focuses mainly on making sheets or lumps of candy glass, also included as an additional experiment is the candy fiber pull. This experiment, which you can see in the video below, comes from the CGIF’s original Materials Science Classroom Kit and provides an insight into how cotton candy is made.
We hope you enjoy trying these sweet demonstrations! Check out all the lessons included in the Glass Science Kit at this link.