What Happens in a Chemical Reaction that Breaks Bongs?

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

Water in a bong cools the smoke, making inhalation smoother and less harsh. It also filters out tar, ash, debris, particulates, enhancing flavor and reducing impurities.

However, What chemicals does the bong water contain that make it appears murky, brown? Why your glass bong breaks when you boil it for cleaning? what happens? How to clean a dirty bong from resin without boiling?

In this article, We will explore the reason behind and answer all 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 pass through the water and into your lungs when using a bong.

When cannabis is smoked through a bong, some of the combustion byproducts and particulates from the smoke dissolve into the water in the bong.

It's a complex mixture of various substances, including ash, tar, resins, and other smoke byproducts.

Smoking out of a dirty water pipe isn't just gross, it's dangerous.

Bong water with ash in it contains copious amounts of nitrogen and carbon which promote rapid Bacteria 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 the black greasy gunk form in the bong wall. This substance is called resin, and it's the residue left behind.

The resin or residue is a byproduct created from ash, tar, and carbon in the process of combustion. Don't smoke it, it comes with a burnt taste and can be harmful to your lungs and health.

Explore More: Is Bong Water Good for Plants or Anything else?

Will bong break if cleaned with boiling water? what happens?

Exposing glass bongs to sudden temperature changes, such as boiling them, pouring hot water into a cold bong, can cause 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, a part of it expands and the other parts do not warm up as fast, therefore creating a bend in the glass itself. 

If the change in temperature is drastic enough, the glass breaks. It's not a Chemical Reaction but a physical, irreversible change.  

In general, the thicker the glass, the more prone it will be to breaking due to the immediate differences in temperature across the thickness of glass.

Additionally, Bongs can be made from 2 types of glass: borosilicate and soda-lime. Borosilicate glass is more tolerant of this, as it has a higher elasticity than standard soda-lime glass.

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

As long as you don’t make your glass bong change temperatures too quick, and it’s quality borosilicate glass, it should be fine to clean with boiling water.

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

Just don’t dunk a hot glass bong in ice water or a cold bong in boiling water.

How to clean a dirty bong from resin without boiling?

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

Isopropyl alcohol and coarse salt is a cheap, quick, and easy method you can use to clean your bongs, hand pipes, dab rigs, and other glasswares.

Pour ≥90% isopropyl alcohol and some coarse salt into the bong and cover any openings with your hand palm or rubber plugs/caps. Then shake it up a bunch until it's clean as new.

The salt acts as a scrubbing agent and the rubbing alcohol dissolves and disinfects resin and grime from your bong.

Additionally, rubbing alcohol evaporates rapidly, leaving no residue behind. This method is safe for glass bongs and is accessible and affordable.

Also Read: How to Clean Your Bong Without Alcohol or Vinegar?

Conclusion

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

By using water for cooling and filtration, bongs transform hot smoke into a smooth, flavorful inhalation.

Glass is sensitive to extreme temperature changes, which makes it prone to breaking, cracking or shattering under the stress of thermal shock.

We recommend you get a bong made by premium borosilicate glass, which will not crack under extreme temperature changes like regular soda-lime glass.

There are a variety of ways to clean your water pipe, but the most efficient, simple and safe method is using isopropyl alcohol and salt.

Avoid Cleaning a glass bong with Boiling Water if possible.