What is inside a vaporizer and vape juice

If you’re new to vaping, then you’re probably curious about how a vaporizer works and what vape liquid is made of? Let’s check it out!

Vaping is an effective way to quit smoking and a safer alternative to smoking traditional cigarettes. According to one study, vaping could be as much as 95% better for you than smoking regular cigarettes. Despite this study, and many others that look favourably on vaping, it has become popular for mainstream media to promote vaping as harmful as smoking, if not worse. 

It’s not uncommon to hear them claim that there is tobacco in vapes, some claim that there are toxic heavy metals in them, some even scream their lungs out that there is antifreeze in them and that they’re likely to explode or catch on fire at any moment. You would be surprised to learn that many smokers even believe that traditional cigarettes are much safer than dangerous vaporizers. So, what’s the truth?

To help explain vaping, we are going to deconstruct a vaporizer and tell you how it works. We’ll also go through what the ingredients in e-liquid are. 

How Does A Vaporizer Work? 

Vaporizers are made from metal, plastic, and electronics. Nothing different than a phone or any other electronic device. When you follow the manufacturer’s instructions, they are no more likely to explode or catch on fire than any other electronic device with a battery. That’s why you never overcharge them, modify them, or leave them on a charger unattended. 

The vaporizer consists of a power source, tank, atomizer/coil, on/off fire button, and mouthpiece. When you hit the firing button or inhale on the vaporizer, the current is sent from the battery and into the coil. The coil is inside the e-liquid tank and wrapped in cotton wicking. The wicking absorbs the e-liquid. The coil heats the e-liquid into a vapour which is then inhaled through the mouthpiece. 

What Is E-Liquid Made From? 

First off, e-liquid has a variety of different names, including e-juice, vape juice, vaping juice, and vaping liquid. While the chemical names of any compound sound dangerous, the truth is they just seem scary. Take water, for instance. You probably know its chemical name – dihydrogen monoxide. Yep, it sounds terrifying! But at the end of the day, it’s just water. It’s even good for you in moderation, but too much water can be dangerous. 

You may be surprised to learn that unlike the 400-600 chemicals in a traditional cigarette, e-liquid only has four! E-liquid is also available in different strengths and ratios. This will be displayed as a VG/PG ration and 0ml/mg for nicotine. So, what is the ingredient in vape juice?

• Vegetable Glycerin (VG) – Vegetable glycerin is used in a variety of different household items, including soap, skincare products, and toothpaste. VG is responsible for creating large clouds of vapour. The higher the VG ratio, the more vapour will be produced. VG is a viscous and sweet substance that doesn’t carry flavour well by itself. 
• Propylene Glycol (PG) – Propylene Glycol is responsible for the ‘throat hit.’ Many people relate closely to smoking. PG is also flavourless and carries flavour well. Most e-liquids are available in the 70/30 VG/PG ratio. 
• Nicotine (Nic) – Nicotine is a dangerous chemical that can be absorbed via your skin. It can be toxic in high doses. However, when used in a particulate form, it is entirely harmless. Here’s why. Nicotine reacts with other chemicals when it burns, and the byproducts of this combustion are harmful, even toxic. But, on its own, it is a perfectly harmless chemical in small doses.
• Flavour – The flavours used in e-liquid are not the same as a food flavouring. They have been designed to be ingested in a vapour. There are thousands of different flavours to choose from, including candy, drinks, cakes, foods, fruits, and much more!

So, now you know what is inside a vape, how vaporizers work, and what vape juice is made of. It’s only as dangerous as anything which is used to excess.