What happens if you eat a silica gel packet

[00:00.44] Of the many, many things we’re not supposed to snack on, perhaps the most common forbidden food is silica gel.

[00:09.20] This tiny packet pops up in packaging for everything— from TVs and guitar cases to sunscreen and snack foods.

[00:18.50] So why is silica gel everywhere, and what would actually happen if you ate it?

[00:24.87] Found in the Earth’s crust, silica, also called silicon dioxide, is typically mined as raw silica sand, which is then washed, dried, sifted, and chemically treated.

[00:38.69] Once manufacturers ensure each grain is uniform, the processed sand gets mixed with sodium carbonate, then heated and combined with an acid that links the silica particles into a jelly-like matrix.

[00:54.89] This matrix gives the material its porous structure, which stays stable after being washed and dried into hard, glassy beads.

[01:04.46] The final product is chemically identical to the sand you might find on a beach— the only difference is that porous structure.

[01:13.49] Inside each silica gel bead is a massive microscopic network of tunnels.

[01:20.39] This dramatically increases the surface area of each bead, with a single gram of silica offering over 700 square meters of surface area.

[01:33.67] But this space doesn’t stay empty for long.

[01:37.92] The silicon dioxide molecules that make up the gel are held together by polar covalent bonds, which attract other polar substances, including water.

[01:48.28] So when silica gel is placed in a humid environment, the water in the air is drawn to the beads’ surface.

[01:57.31] From these surface pores, the water vapor is then pulled inside the grain through a process called capillary condensation.

[02:07.67] Each grain can hold up to 40% of its own weight in water, allowing a standard 5-gram packet to hold roughly 2 grams of liquid.

[02:18.03] And since this liquid is held inside the bead’s internal network, even fully saturated silica doesn't feel wet to the touch.

[02:28.92] This ability makes silica gel a desiccant, a type of substance used to keep things dry.

[02:36.63] But these beads can suck up more than just water. Silica attracts ammonia, sulfur dioxide, and a handful of other gases, making it useful in gas masks and other filtration systems.

[02:50.70] The pace of this process depends on the environment.

[02:53.89] In a very humid enclosed space, a packet could reach its saturation point within a day or two, but this could take up to a week in a moderately humid environment.

[03:05.31] Either way, silica gel beads functionally last forever since you can dry them out in a hot oven.

[03:13.81] These abilities and silica’s prevalence in Earth’s crust have made it the planet’s most popular commercial desiccant since we started mass producing it in 1919.

[03:26.30] At home, it keeps snacks crispy and extends their shelf life, ensures pills and vitamins stay dry, and captures any stinky scents from your cat’s litter box.

[03:37.19] Museums use silica gel in exhibit cases to prevent metal artifacts from rusting and preserved animals from growing mold.

[03:48.34] And in outer space, a form of silica gel called aerogel is used to insulate rovers from extreme temperatures and capture high-velocity comet dust for study back home.

[04:00.56] But what about what silica gel would do to you if you successfully swallowed a packet?

[04:07.47] The answer is... not much. Those “Do Not Eat” warnings have more to do with packets being choking hazards than any silica-specific concerns.

[04:18.10] Besides, your body has so much liquid in it— even if the packet did suck up the standard 2 grams, you could replenish that much and more with a single glass of water.

[04:30.05] And since silica is chemically inert, your body won’t break the gel down into something toxic.

[04:36.95] That said, downing larger quantities of silica gel would be unpleasant. Its moisture-wicking properties could dry and irritate mucous membranes along the digestive tract, resulting in diarrhea and an upset stomach.

[04:53.42] Worse still, some silica is coated with cobalt chloride to indicate moisture levels, and that compound actually is toxic.

[05:03.78] But assuming your silica snack is of the standard variety, you should survive the ordeal.