Science of Pop Rocks

To me, Pop Rocks are a childhood staple. The signature crackle and pop when they hit your tongue brings back memories of halloween and easter. However, where does the “pop” in Pop Rocks come from?

History of Pop Rocks

In 1975, a food scientist at General Foods by the name of William Mitchel was trying to invent an instant soft drink. However, when he poured the sugar flavoring and the carbon dioxide he found that it created an exploding candy. It became a cultural phenomenon not much later when a rumor was spread. The legend was that a little boy by the name of Mikey died while eating Pop Rocks and Coca Cola at the same time. Even though the rumor wasn’t true, Pop Rocks were taken off the market until 1985 when it was renamed “Action Candy” by Kraft Foods.

Science behind Pop Rocks

The ingredients in Pop Rocks are sugar, corn syrup, flavoring, and lactose. The ingredients are brought to a boil and then covered in carbon dioxide. As the candy cools, the carbon dioxide is trapped as tiny bubbles and can not escape. The popping noise is from when the Pop Rocks is released on your tongue. The humid environment of your mouth causes the candy to melt and realizes the bubbles of the carbon dioxide. Pop Rocks are not dangerous since the amount of carbon dioxide is not nearly as much as much as even Coca Cola.

Next time you try Pop Rocks you can remember where the popping sound comes from!

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Gifford, Bill. "Pop rocks." New Republic 211.26 (1994): 9-10.

Almberg, Leslie. "Pop Rocks! Engaging first-year geology students by deconstructing and correcting scientific misconceptions in popular culture. A Practice Report." Student Success 2.2 (2011): 69.

Rounick, Adam. Death By Pop Rocks and Pepsi: Stories. Diss. Cleveland State University, 2018.