How is it that we can chew, and chew, and chew bubble gum, and chewing gum, and it never loses its texture. How is chewing gum made, and what ingredients are used to make it?
2006-08-12 17:45:14 · 4 answers · asked by ♥♫i luv♥♫juicy fruit♥♫gum 6 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
Up until WWII, chewing gum was made of a substance called chicle mixed with flavorings. Chicle is a latex sap that comes from the sapodilla tree (native to Central America). In other words, chicle is a form of rubber. Just like rubber bands don't dissolve when you chew them, neither does chicle. Chicle is a good bit softer than rubber bands and happens to soften more when it gets warm in your mouth. If you freeze chicle with ice, it gets very stiff -- chicle hardens and softens over a pretty narrow temperature range.
After WWII, chemists learned how to make artificial gum bases to replace chicle. These gum bases are essentially synthetic rubbers that have the same temperature profile as chicle.
Gum bases (either natural or artificial) are mixed with sugar and other flavorings to make chewing gum. When you chew it, the rubber releases these flavorings into your mouth.
2006-08-12 17:49:44 · answer #1 · answered by Pam 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Chewing gum is a type of confectionery which is designed to be chewed instead of swallowed. Traditionally, it was made of chicle, a natural latex product, although for reasons of economy and quality many modern chewing gums use petroleum-based polymers instead of chicle. Chicle is nonetheless still the base of choice for some regional markets, such as in Japan. Glee Gum is the last United States gum manufacturer to still use chicle.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chewing_gum
2006-08-12 17:53:15 · answer #2 · answered by poobear Libertarian 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Sugar, rubber, food coloring.
2006-08-12 17:50:33 · answer #3 · answered by foxray43 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Semen... keep chewing...
2006-08-12 17:52:22 · answer #4 · answered by Transgénico 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋