Silica Gel is an amorphous and porous form of silicon dioxide (SiO2), consisting of irregular tridimensional framework of alternating silicon (Si) and oxygen (O) atoms with nanometer-scale voids and pores.
Some grains of silica xerogel contain small amounts of indicator substance that changes colour when they have absorbed gaseous dihydrogen monoxide (H2O).
When silica gel is exposed to liquid H2O, granules or beads exploded with cracking sounds, just like cooking popcorn. Here is aftermath of such explosion.
