What happens when a chemical reaction breaks bongs?

A bong is a special water pipe for smoking cannabis flowers, typically made of glass. It uses water to cool and purify the smoke for smoother hits.

Water in a bong cools the smoke and makes inhaling smoother and less harsh. It also filters out tar, ash, dirt and particles, improving taste and reducing contaminants.

But what chemicals does bong water contain that make it appear cloudy and brown? Why does your glass bong break when you boil it to clean it? what is happening? How do I clean resin from a dirty bong without boiling it?

In this article, we'll explore why and answer all of these questions to help you use your bong more safely and effectively.

What is the chemical composition of dirty bong water?

Phytocannabinoids like THC and CBD are not water-soluble, which is why they enter your lungs through the water when you use a bong.

When cannabis is smoked in a bong, some of the combustion byproducts and particles from the smoke dissolve in the bong's water.

It is a complex mixture of different substances, including ash, tar, resins and other smoke byproducts.

Smoking from a dirty hookah is not only gross, but dangerous.

Bong water with ash contains large amounts of nitrogen and carbon, which promote rapid bacterial and mold growth. The longer the water sits in the bong, the more time these harmful organisms have to grow and multiply.

If you've ever smoked weed from a bong, you've seen a black, greasy mass forming in the bong's wall. This substance is called resin and is the residue left behind.

The resin or residue is a by-product formed from ash, tar and carbon during combustion. Do not smoke it, it has a burnt taste and can be harmful to your lungs and your health.

Learn more: Is bong water good for plants or something else?

Will the bong break if cleaned with boiling water? what is happening?

Exposing glass bongs to sudden temperature changes, such as from cooking or pouring hot water into a cold bong, can create stress points and weaken the structural integrity of the glass, increasing the risk of breakage.

It is caused by thermal expansion/contraction. Glass expands when hot and contracts when cold.

When a glass is suddenly heated, part of it expands and the other parts do not heat up as quickly, creating a bend in the glass itself.

If the temperature change is severe enough, the glass will shatter. It is not a chemical reaction, but a physical, irreversible change.

In general, the thicker the glass, the more vulnerable it is due to the immediate temperature differences across the glass thickness.

Additionally, bongs can be made from two types of glass: borosilicate glass and soda-lime glass. Borosilicate glass tolerates this better because it has greater elasticity than conventional soda-lime glass.

Borosilicate glass can withstand extreme temperatures (+650 °C), while soda lime can crack/break under sudden temperature changes (+200 °C).

As long as the temperature of your glass bong does not change too quickly and it is made of high-quality borosilicate glass, cleaning it with boiling water should be possible without any problems.

If you have a soda lime glass bong, you can warm it up with hot water first before boiling it to reduce thermal shock.

Just don't submerge a hot glass bong in ice water or a cold bong in boiling water.

How do I clean resin from a dirty bong without boiling it?

By cleaning your glass pipes regularly, you can prevent the buildup of bacteria and residue and, in turn, also extend the life of your glass.

Isopropyl alcohol and coarse salt is an inexpensive, quick, and easy method to clean your bongs, hand pipes, dab rigs, and other glassware.

Pour ≥90% isopropyl alcohol and some coarse salt into the bong and seal all openings with your palm or rubber plugs/caps. Then shake it a few times until it is clean as new.

The salt acts as an abrasive and the rubbing alcohol dissolves and disinfects resin and dirt from your bong.

Additionally, rubbing alcohol evaporates quickly and leaves no residue. This method is safe and accessible and affordable for glass bongs.

Also read: How do I clean my bong without alcohol or vinegar?

Diploma

Bongs can provide a unique and enjoyable smoking experience for those who choose to use them.

By using water for cooling and filtering, bongs turn hot smoke into a smooth, aromatic inhalation.

Glass is sensitive to extreme temperature fluctuations and can therefore break, crack or shatter under the stress of thermal shock.

We recommend that you purchase a bong made of high-quality borosilicate glass, which will not break under extreme temperature changes like regular soda lime glass.

There are several ways to clean your hookah, but the most efficient, easiest, and safest method is to use isopropyl alcohol and salt.

If possible, avoid cleaning a glass bong with boiling water.