What Makes The Crack In Christmas Crackers?
Christmas crackers contain small, thin cardboard tubes filled with chemicals. When the cracker is pulled apart by two people, a small hammer strikes these cardboard tubes, causing a small explosion and creating the cracking sound. The chemicals inside these tubes are usually a mixture of silver fulminate and potassium chlorate, which are highly reactive and create a loud pop when struck. The popping sound of the cracker is part of a long-standing British tradition that dates back to the mid-19th century.