What makes aluminum foil spark and catch on fire in microwaves?

Question

I did it, but of course accidentally, forgetting that aluminum foil throws sparks and catches fire. Let me just say that it looked like 4th of July fireworks going off inside when I was able to get back to it as quickly as possible. (Call of nature had to intervene.) What causes those sparks to happen anyway? I guess if you like those sizzling sounds its nice, but the food only takes a matter of seconds for it to get ruined and wasted that way. (Don't try it.) By the way, the microwave is fine but, who can now repair my food?

Answer 1

It's metals in general; metal cuttlery, things with gilded edges etc will do the same. You can however put foil in the microwave, but it needs to be lacking harsh edges, so that there is nothing for the microwaves to arc off.

Answer 2

The microwaves are not being absorbed into the food because the foil is scrambling the waves. The foil doesnot absorb the waves which are usually cocetrated in the center of the oven.

Answer 3

the fluorine atoms will react when a negatively charged free electron comes in contact with a gas that reacts at subatomic temperatures. The particles will absorb some components of the ozone layer, causing the impulse motors to sieze up and the reverse thrusters to automatically kick in. This causes the warp drive to overheat inside the jeffries tubes, thus igniting the foil. i hope this helps.

Answer 4

its called the photoelectric effect broham, its strange because its pretty simply to describe and yet it won einstein his nobel prize. when the microwave emits its photons they happen to have enough energy to ionize some of the free electrons swimming around in the metal, when they do this they can either mess around with the surrounding air or recombine with the metal. in an case they will be falling into a potential well where their energy is lower than when they were free and they will emit their own photons...light

Answer 5

Not being very scientific myself, I do not understand how microwaves work. I know it has something to do with it being an electromagnet and to not put anything metal or aluminum in them. It could cause any explosion which could damage your kitchen and yourself if you are nearby. Be careful. It's nothing to play around with.

Answer 6

If you liked that, put a CD in it.
Or diced hot dogs. (yup) hot dogs.........If the corners of the diced hot dog touch each other they'll spark too.....

Oh, as for your question....I don't realy know.

Answer 7

I thought conductivity

Answer 8

i have a microwave