Why is custard powder likely to explode

Glucose burns in oxygen to produce carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and water Keep viewers far enough away from the demonstration area and behind a safety screen. The operator should wear safety glasses and not be too close to the demonstration equipment. Ensure the powder will be blown straight upwards and that there is nothing hanging above the area which could catch fire.

In essence, ensure that no person or property can be harmed by the flame. Ensure that the custard powder is not inhaled accidentally before the straw is blown. Never use any other powders including metal powders which may ignite very violently. If all goes well, the demonstration definitely has the 'wow' factor but also can provoke serious scientific debate. It can be used in both Chemistry and biology lessons and also as an end of term demonstration to send them off on holiday with a bang!

Safety The contents of this page are for information only. Follow the safety guide above and do a risk assessment before attempting this demonstration.

It is estimated that dust explosions occur in factories and refineries a year in Europe. While many of these are relatively minor, throughout history there have been many, at times disastrous, combustible dust explosions. Throughout the nineteenth century there were many dust explosions throughout Europe and the United States, several of which completely destroyed the mills they took place in. The most notable was in in Minnesota, when a buildup of flour in a mill caused an explosion that killed 18 people.

The blast was so powerful that limestone blocks were sent flying, and windows in neighbouring towns were broken. An explosion of a silo storing tons of a mixture of ammonium sulphate and ammonium nitrate fertiliser in Germany in is estimated to have killed between and people and injured more.

The worst flour mill explosion on record occurred in Westwego, Louisiana in , when a buildup of grain dust came in contact with static electricity. The explosion caused 49 silos to catch fire, killing 36 workers, many from being crushed by the collapsing silos. Building code reforms for grain silos were based off this event. Now place a candle inside the tin, quickly seal the lid then blow through the tube: kaboom, the lid should have flown off as the custard ignited.

Science teachers love this kind of experiment; it keeps kids engaged whilst demonstrating some important principles of science. Yet, if a group of kids can make a tin of custard explode, just think of the potential explosive power in factories that use tons of it. Not just custard either, most powdered foodstuffs, such as sugar, spices, flour and even coffee can explode. Of course there are laws implemented to ensure that risk of explosions are kept to a minimum but how many companies actually follow them?

In Britain the EU's ATEX directive was introduced in to ensure companies were aware of the risks attached with explosive materials. Yet, according to industry analysts, many food producers, particularly smaller companies, are wither completely unaware of the risks or are ignoring them. Even when companies do take pains to ensure they meet the desired requirements often certain items can get missed, the most common being the computer equipment.