Number 11: Grape plasma

We all know about the 3 states of matter, right? There's gases, liquids and solids. Well there's actually more than that (they don't bother teaching you about them in school) and one of them is plasma. It can be made by super heating gases to the point where the electrons get stripped off leaving charged ions and free electrons. Generally you need a lot of heat, like in a star or lightning to make it. Or some clever technology, like a plasma lamps. But it turns out you can also make plasma with a grape and a microwave oven.

Safety:

1. The grapes get VERY hot so be careful when you take them out of the microwave. 
2. The process also produces ozone gas, which is poisonous and can cause breathing difficulties. It doesn't produce a lot of it, but you probably don't want to do this experiment to many times. And if you are asthmatic its probably best to just watch it on youtube. 
3. There is the potential to damage your microwave. I've never hurt mine but just be warned making  3000^oC plasma may not do it much good. So ask whoever owns the oven if its OK first.

What you'll need:

• A microwave oven
• A grape
• A knife
• Kitchen towel

What to do:

1. Cut the grape in half along its equator. Make sure you keep the two halves attached by a bit of skin.

2. Place the cut surfaces on the kitchen towel to gentle dry them.

3. Turn the grapes back over and stick them in the microwave.

4. Turn it on. 

For the sake of this video I've used 4 grapes in one go. I advice you to do it one at a time.

5. When you (carefully) take the grape out you should see that its really pretty singed around the side. Which just goes to show how hot it go.

What's going on?
I have to confess that I'm not sure about this one. And judging from discussions elsewhere on the web there's no clear answer. So if someone would like to chip in and give us an explanation I'd be glad to hear it.