Exploding pumpkins – W.A.M.P.U.S.

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Mr. Del Guercio’s science classes were treated to a demonstration in which he exploded pumpkins.

The “explosions” took place on Halloween and Del Guercio wore the perfect costume – that of a mad scientist.

Del Guercio would not reveal the secrets behind the creation of the explosion but he did offer this information.

“This is a combustion reaction,” he said. “A substance placed inside the pumpkin reacts with water to produce a flammable gas. This gas is ignited to explode the pumpkin.”

In a diagram that was used for the demo, it showed acetylene, a combustible fuel, being mixed with water and calcium carbide. The wording on the diagram noted that this is the same chemical reaction which enabled coal miners to have light in the mines before the days of electricity and battery lamps.

All of the students greatly enjoyed witnessing the harmless “blast” and were heard talking about it for several days.