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Have you ever tried to put a candle out without blowing on it?
In this video we learn how a fire burns and the chemical reaction behind combustion. For a fire to burn, three factors must be present: oxygen (O2), fuel, and heat, this is called the combustion triangle. Using a few simple household ingredients let us show you how to put a flame out without touching it!
What you’ll need:
- Candle
- Jar with lid
- Baking soda
- Vinegar
- Lighter
- Teaspoon
Warning
This experiment involves fire, so make sure there is a responsible adult nearby to supervise. We recommend conducting this experiment indoors to avoid any surprise gusts of wind that may interfere with your experiment.
Instructions
- Pour a quarter of a cup of vinegar into the jar.
- Light the candle.
- Add a teaspoon of bicarb soda to the vinegar. Your jar’s contents should be fizzing and creating bubbles – these bubbles contain carbon dioxide.
Put the lid onto your jar immediately to trap the carbon dioxide.
- When you’re ready to put out the candle, hold the jar near your candle and unscrew the lid, tipping the jar so that the carbon dioxide flows out and extinguishes the flame.
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