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Chanelle Renk

Mrs. Stevens

Life Science

31 January 2018

How Much Mass Is Lost When a Marshmallow Is Burned?

When I was younger and sometimes even still today, my dad used to take me camping

with a group called Indian Princesses (now called Adventure Guides/princesses). We would

camp out and of course we would have the most common campfire snack, S’mores. I liked the

gram crackers and I LOVED the chocolate but I didn’t like the marshmallows. I used to eat the

cracker and chocolate, but I would throw the marshmallow in the fire. One time I started looking

at the burning marshmallow in the fire, and I noticed that as it burned it started to turn into a

metallic color. I thought “Wow! I wonder what changed in the marshmallow,” and that’s why I

decided to do this for my science fair. I hypothesized that ​If a marshmallow is burned, then the

marshmallow will lose half of its mass.

How Do You Make a Marshmallow?

While most marshmallows are mass made in factories, There are many ways to make

your own marshmallows. According to Mr. Alton Brown, you will need the following

ingredients to make marshmallows: “3 packages unflavored gelatin, 1 cup ice cold water,

divided, 12 ounces granulated sugar, 1 cup light corn syrup, 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 teaspoon

vanilla extract, 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar, 1/4 cup cornstarch, and Nonstick spray”. Most

recipes for making marshmallows include the same staple ingredients. These include gelatin,
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water, sugar, and cornstarch. These few variations can include: temperature of water, type of

sugar, the amount of cornstarch used and so on. (Brown) Gelatin is not vegan, so some people

put in vegan substitutes. In addition, many people add fun flavors for certain holidays.

(Christensen)

What Happens To a Marshmallow When It Is Burned?

During the burning of the marshmallow, it goes through a chemical change which

changes it’s chemical makeup. The marshmallow puffs up as it’s outer layers become infused

with the carbon. This is what gives the end product it’s sharp and metallic-looking outer layer.

When marshmallows are burned on a stick the marshmallow actually stops the stick from

catching on fire. (Fabus)When a marshmallow is burned, convective heat transfer happens.

“Convective heat transfer, often referred to simply as convection, is the transfer of heat from one

place to another by the movement of fluids. Convection is usually the dominant form of heat

transfer in liquids and gases. ... Thermal expansion of fluids may also force convection.” (Palca)

This is very crucial because it is the main type of heat transfer.

Why Do Objects Lose Mass When They Are Burned?

When an object is burned it isn’t always fire but it is heat transfer. Fire itself is a

chemical reaction, therefore it actually has no mass itself. However, fire can effectively cause as

object to lose mass and therefore density. The law of conservation of mass is a very important

part of the effect of burning on density. Paul gives a wonderful example when he says to

“Imagine a piece of paper burning in air to produce carbon dioxide and water”. “If the system

includes just the paper the system will lose a lot of mass as CO2 and water are given off.” “If the

system is the paper, CO2 and water in a glass bowl in thermal contact with the rest of the
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universe, the system will lose a tiny amount of mass as a result of energy from combustion being

transferred to the rest of the universe.”. “If the system is 2. but enclosed in a sphere which is

perfectly reflecting at all wavelengths and thermally isolated from rest of universe, there will be

no mass change.”. Nothing ever truly can be destroyed, it can change form, but it can’t be

destroyed. (Does)

Are Marshmallows Amorphous Or Crystalline Solids? What Does This Mean?

Marshmallows are an amorphous solid. There are two types of solids, each with their own

arrangement of molecules. “Crystalline solids have regular ordered arrays of components held

together by uniform intermolecular forces” Whereas components of amorphous solids (the other

type of solid) are not arranged in regular arrays. Amorphous solids do not possess a solid shape.

Crystalline solids also have a higher condensation in their molecules. (Libretexts) The atoms in

crystalline structures are closer together and they are grouped in patterns that are regular and

repeating patterns According to Will Hurd “A molecule’s crystal structure determines how it

looks, feels, and behaves” This is why a marshmallow is partially malleable. (Hurd 14-15)

How Do You Accurately Measure the Mass of a Burned Object?

Most people use a load cell when measuring the mass of a burned object. Load cells

come in different forms and shapes depending on the size of the measured object. The one thing

that stays the same in all load cells is a metal beam or rod. The beam gives a centre of gravity to

the scale. The weight of the object is proportional to the displacement of the object. (Apte) When

something is burned it decreases the mass of most objects. The amount of density that is lost is

depending on the size of the object. Physics Stack Exchange says that,“According to the

mass-energy equivalence principle, If you heated an object for a while and measured its mass,
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you'll find that it has decreased more than its initial mass.” This shows that mass will be lost

during the experiment. (Does)

What Are Some Necessary Safety Precautions When Dealing With Fire?

For multiple safety reasons, this is an experiment best done outside without any wind

factor. The wind factor could affect the rate of burning and also therefore the time of burning.

You should also always have a fire extinguisher near any open fire. Test smoke alarms and gas

detectors previously to the experiment. Make sure that workspace is neat and tidy to prevent a

fire hazard. Flammable materials are the most hazardous part of this experiment. “Keep ignition

sources away from combustible material, flammable liquids/gases, etc.” This shows that large

amounts of flammable materials are dangerous in this experiment, and unused containers should

be kept closed. (Scotland)

I hypothesised that ​If a marshmallow is burned, then the marshmallow will lose half of its

mass.​ I was approximately right on average the marshmallow lost about half of it’s mass.

Marshmallows are mostly air puffed into them so once it burns the mass should logically shrink

dramatically. Which they did. I also found that the end product is hollow and very brittle. In

conclusion, when I burned 10 mini marshmallows in the oven they lost about half of their mass.

Exactly what was expected from the previous research!

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Works Cited

Apte, Vivek B. Flammability Testing of Materials Used in Construction, Transport and Mining.

Woodhead Publishing, 2006.

Brown/Good Eats, Mr. Alton. “Alton Brown's Homemade Marshmallows.” ALTON BROWN,

Alton Brown, 2 Dec. 2015, altonbrown.com/homemade-marshmallow-recipe/.

Christensen, Emma. “How To Make Fluffy Marshmallows.” Kitchn, Apartment Therapy, LLC.,

28 Oct. 2013, ​www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-fluffy-vanilla-marshmallows-130751​.

“Does Fire Have an Influence on the Weight of a Burning Object?” Thermodynamics - Does Fire

Have an Influence on the Weight of a Burning Object? - Physics Stack Exchange, Stack

Exchange Inc; , 2017,

www.physics.stackexchange.com/questions/200752/does-fire-have-an-influence-on-the-w

eight-of-a-burning-object​.

Fabus, Taylor. “Science at the Campfire: The Science of Roasting Marshmallows!” MSU

Extension, Michigan State University, 10 June 2013,

www.msue.anr.msu.edu/news/science_at_the_campfire_the_science_of_roasting_marshm

allows​.

Hurd, Will. “a Solid Crystal Structure, a World of Different Solids.” Changing States: Solids,

Liquids, and Gases, Heinemann Library, an Imprint Capstone Global Library, LLC, 2016,

pp. 14–15.
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Libretexts. “12.1: Crystalline and Amorphous Solids.” Chemistry LibreTexts, Libretexts, 1 Feb.

2015,

www.chem.libretexts.org/Textbook_Maps/General_Chemistry_Textbook_Maps/Map%3A

_Chemistry_(Averill_and_Eldredge)/12%3A_Solids/12.1%3A_Crystalline_and_Amorpho

us_Solids.

Palca, Joe. “Summer Science: The Perfectly Toasted Marshmallow.” NPR, NPR, 12 June 2012,

www.npr.org/2012/06/12/154781777/summer-science-the-perfectly-toasted-marshmallow​.

Scotland, NHS Health. “Fire.” Healthy Working Lives, NHS Health Scotland, 20 Apr. 2016,

www.healthyworkinglives.com/advice/workplace-hazards/fire#safety​.