Snapping a Polo mint.

[198x]

Why does a little flash appear when you snap a Polo mint in half ?

i.e - go in somewhere dark for about 5 minutes and then snap a Polo mint, a blue flash will appear.


I have tried it on a Trebor mint but no success so what's so special about a Polo ?

[shammydodger]

You need to get out more. And that's rich, coming from me!

[fo3nix]

It's due to triboluminescence.

Have a look at these pages:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triboluminescence
http://answers.google.com/answers/main?cmd=thr eadview&id=108877

[shammydodger]

What, not Treborluminescence?

[mibn2cweus]

What's in a name . . . a mint by any other name tastes as sweet.

[Space]

I didn't know polo's were an emergency lighting device,
I just ate them instead !! d'oh!

[janetsflower]

Why would you be snapping polo mints in the dark in the first place????

[198x]

In response to your question janetsflower, I was actually told this during a Chemistry lesson a good couple of years back.

I've no idea as to how my teacher found this information out though.