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How to Make Silica Gel Expand

Silica gel packets are used as preservatives. They help to absorb moisture inside of concealed spaces so that contents remain dry and in good condition. You find them in shoe boxes and pill bottles. The gel is even used to preserve artwork and artifacts in museums. The anti-humidity gel will expand under the wrong conditions.

Things You'll Need

Glass
Water
Plastic bag
Microwave

Instructions

- 1
  Remove silica beads from the packet. Drop the silica beads directly into water. Adding silica beads to water disrupts the relative humidity balance, which is the critical property in silica gel's effectiveness.
- 2
  Leave the gel in the water. Observe the silica gel crack, pop and expand. Some of the beads will grow larger and larger until they almost look flat.
- 3
  Place dry silica gel beads inside a plastic bag. Head the silica gel in the bag in the microwave oven. The microwave heats the gel from the inside and causes the relative humidity properties to rise, making the beads expand.

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