What is the chemical basis for Ben Gay making your skin hot?

Subject: What is the chemical basis for Ben Gay making your skin hot?

Date: Sat Sep 23 18:10:35 2000
Posted by James St. Denis
Grade level: 10-12 School: NDBG
City: Schenectady State/Province: NY Country: USA
Area of science: Chemistry
ID: 969747035.Ch

Message:


I am an 11th grade Chemistry teacher.  We are learning about exothermic 
and endothermic reactions in class and I used a cold pack for a 
endothermic example.  A student asked me how Ben Gay works to make your 
skin feel hot.  Is it exothermic?  What is the chemical basis for this?

Thanks.

Re: What is the chemical basis for Ben Gay making your skin hot?

Current Queue | Current Queue for Chemistry | Chemistry archives

Try the links in the MadSci Library for more information on Chemistry.