Hot Chilli

 Aim:

I want to find out the best way to cool down your tongue after eating hot chili.

Research: 

 Funny

science

Experiment

Method:

Equipment:

- Hot Chili Sauce

- Popsicle stick

- Drinks - Soda, Water, Milk

- Timer

Instructions:

1. get your equipment.

2. get a drop of hot sauce on your popsicle stick.

3. Lick the hot chili sauce and swirl it around your mouth.

4. start the timer.

5. after 2 minutes drink your drink.

6. after 5 minutes, how hot is your mouth?

7. repeat the experiment, but with a different drink.

Results:

1st chili - no drink: 8/10 - stopped burning at 3 minutes

2nd chili - water: 6/10 - still extra chili leftover from 1st try, still burning at the end. had water after 4 minutes.

3rd chili - coke - 5/10 - burns more than the first ones, went straight down my throat, the drink did not cool it down even though I had two.

Last Chili - milk - at first it was still burning from the leftovers, but then at 2 minutes when we drank the milk it only helped a little but the last drink helped more than the first drink - 5.5/10

Discussion:

why does chili burn your mouth? capsaicin makes your mouth feel like it's on fire because the capsaicin molecule can fit into your receptors perfectly (receptors - the end of any nerve on your body) and when this happens it triggers your receptors, which send a signal to your brain, fooling it into thinking that your mouth is literally burning.

(what is capsaicin?) capsaicin is an active part of chili peppers, which are plants that belong to the capsicum, capsaicin is a chemical irritant for mammals, even humans.

why did the milk reduce the burn?

Casein, Many milk-based products can help break down the capsaicin. You can think of casein as a detergent, helps wash away the capsaicin molecules, similar to how soap washes away grease.