WEBVTT - What is chewing gum made of?

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<v Speaker 1>Welcome to brain Stuff from how stuff works dot com

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<v Speaker 1>where smart Happens. Hi, I'm Marshall Brain with today's question,

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<v Speaker 1>what is chewing gum made of? Up until World War Two,

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<v Speaker 1>chewing gum was made of a substance called chickle mixed

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<v Speaker 1>with flavorings. Chickle is a latex sap that comes from

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<v Speaker 1>a tree native to Central America. In other words, chickle

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<v Speaker 1>is a form of rubber. Just like rubber bands don't

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<v Speaker 1>dissolve when you chew them, neither just chickle. Chickle is

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<v Speaker 1>a good bit softer than rubber bands that it happens

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<v Speaker 1>to soften more when it gets warm in your mouth.

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<v Speaker 1>If you freeze chicken with ice, it gets very stiff.

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<v Speaker 1>In other words, chickle hardens and softens over a pretty

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<v Speaker 1>narrow temperature range, close to human body heat, and that

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<v Speaker 1>makes it good for chewing gum. If you get chickle hot,

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<v Speaker 1>you can mix it about fifty fifty with sugar and

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<v Speaker 1>a flavoring like peppermint extract, and you have chewing gum.

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<v Speaker 1>After World War Two, chemists learned how to make artificial

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<v Speaker 1>gum bases to replace the chickle. These gum bases are

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<v Speaker 1>essentially synthetic rubbers. That have the same temperature profile as

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<v Speaker 1>chickle gum. Basses, either natural or artificial, are mixed with

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<v Speaker 1>sugar and other flavorings to make chewing gum. When you

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<v Speaker 1>chew it, the rubber releases these flavorings into your mouth.

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