This question was answered by "Jack" on Yahoo answers. It was chosen as "Best Answer - Chosen by Asker" "Super Glue contains a chemical called cyanoacrylate which reacts with WATER in the air to harden. When manufactured, there is no water in the tube and so the super glue doesn't harden. As soon as the glue is exposed to the air, however, it reacts with any moisture and hardens, in the same way that epoxy resins react with their hardeners to harden. If you want super glue to harden quicker you should breathe on it, as the moisture in your breath promotes the hardening process. And it's also why super glue sticks to your hands so well, as there's a plentiful supply of water on your skin." Here's the link: http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/?qid=20060707065634AAqWYqu When does school start? These people who are too bored to do anything besides downgrade correct answers really need to get away from answerbag for a while. Maybe go to church and listen for a change, instead of sanctimoniously polishing that fake halo and preaching to all of us sinners. You know, some people make you want to take another look at hell, if you think they're going to be in heaven. Well, not really. But only because God, in His wisdom, made heaven extremely big. I hope. ~~~~~ Thanks Rotty! You're a sweetheart.

I think it has to do with the fact that the bottle keeps it from drying. If you leave it open, it'll dry up and stick.

I think that when you use super glue, it reacts to the oxygen, and sticks. No oxygen in the tube.

Superglue requires humidity (water) to work. While in the container it has no access to humidity. It polymerizes when it touches the air, which has humidity in it.

Because it requires air (I think it's oxygen but might be wrong) to cure, and this is not present in the tube. Ever notice that it always comes in small air tight tubes? This is why.

no air to make it dry !!!

Because it needs to dry to stick to something, silly, and needs the pressence of air.

It will harden in the tube if the top is left off. There are also certains plastics that "super-glue" will not bond.