Materials Required:
- 1 tablespoonful of dried hot peppers
- ¼ cup of hot tap water
- Cotton swab
Procedure:
- Mix the hot peppers in the hot tap water. Let the mixture soak for about twenty minutes.
- Next, dip a cotton swab in the water. Then shake off any excess water. Touch the tip of the swab to your tongue. You will feel a hot, spicy sensation.
Caution: Do not drink any of the solution or allow more than a single drop to touch your tongue. - Now, remove a few of the pepper bits from the cup and place them on your wrist. You will also experience the same hot feeling in this location.
- After finishing the experiment, wash your hands and wrist thoroughly.
This is what happens:
There is a chemical in the hot peppers that produces the sensation of hotness. This chemical can be felt by the skin as well as by the tongue. Some kinds of microscopic forms of life respond to these chemicals over their entire bodies. They do not have special taste buds.
