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Harrison Lee 9/11/12 Period 11 Malisa Ray Candle Lab

Objective: To observe a candle flame as conditions are changed Test the behavior of the candle under a variety of conditions To determine the products formed by a burning candle.

Data: Procedure Number Part A 1 and 2 Hypotheses The candle will lose mass as it burns. Observations and Data Beginning mass: 22.04g Final mass: 21.55g Beaker #1 time: 14 sec Beaker #2 time: 2 sec Analysis The candle lost mass as the matter was converted into energy. The larger beaker contained more oxygen, allowing the flame to continue burning for a longer period of time. The match fire split because the area where it was being blown by CO2 from the candle flame was being suffocated. The flame was extinguished because the copper wire crippled the incoming supply of oxygen to the flame. The water droplets

Part B 1 and 2

The flame will burn for a longer period of time in the larger beaker than the smaller one. The fire on the match will go out because the candle fire will only feed it with CO2.

The match fire split.

The flame will be extinguished by the copper coil.

The candle flame got extinguished.

I think the flame will

The fire weakened

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get extinguished.

then went out.

probably cut off the supply of wax (the fuel) to the flame.

Part C 1

I think one of the products of the flame would be water, and the test paper will turn pink.

The cobalt chloride test paper turned pink on contact with the drop of water. There was moisture in One of the products the beaker. Paper of combustion must turned pink. be water.

3 4

There are charred deposits. The limewater became cloudy.

The carbon dioxide gas in the flask made the limewater turn cloudy.

Initial temperature: 86.2 30 seconds: 93 60 seconds: 107 90 seconds: 128 120 seconds: 135

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Conclusions: Interpretations 1. On the basis of this experiment, describe the difference between an observation and an interpretation. What are some of the limitations of this experiment? Based on the experiment, an observation is what a person sees as the result of an experiment. An interpretation is how the person perceives the observation as. One of the limitations of this experiment was the inability to test the candle flame in an environment with lots of oxygen and no oxygen. 2. Find out the difference between qualitative and quantitative measurements. Which of the investigations of the burning candle involved quantitative measurement? What other quantitative measurements might be made? The weighing of the candle from before to after required quantitative measurement. Other quantitative investigations included recording the time it took for the candle fire to extinguish, and the temperature changes as the test tube half-full of water was heated over a period of 2 minutes. 3. Based on your analysis of part C, steps 2, 3 and 5, identify the 3 products formed as the candle burned. According to my analysis, the 3 products produced by the candle flame were H2O, CO2, and carbon. 4. Where does the heat energy coming from the burning candle originate? The heat coming from the burning candle originates from the candle wax. 5. In Step 1 of Part B, why was the candle ame extinguished when covered with a ask? It was suggested that one of the products of the candles combustion was carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is used in some re extinguishers. How do you think gases in the air and carbon dioxide affect the behavior of the ame? The candle flame was extinguished when it was covered with a flask because gradually, the oxygen required for combustion was depleted in the flask. Instead, the oxygen was replaced with CO2. Gases in the air and CO2 can affect the behavior of a flame by either weakening the combustion rate or strengthening it. 6. . What do you think caused the ame to be extinguished in Step 4 of Part B when the copper coil was placed in the ame? I think the flame was extinguished when a copper coil was placed over it because the coil crippled the source of oxygen that was feeding the flame.

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7. If it is assumed that a candle reacts with oxygen, O2, in the air and the only products are energy, carbon dioxide, CO2, and water, H2O, what two elements must be present in the composition of a candle? If a candle reacts with oxygen and the products are CO2, and H2O, hydrogen and carbon must be present in the composition of the candle. 8. Write a short paragraph describing what you think is occurring during the combustion of a candle. List starting materials and end products. (This is your theory.) During the combustion of a candle, energy(heat) melts some of the candle wax, to a certain point in which the wax and the surrounding oxygen combust. Molten wax flows up the wick in a continual flow, feeding the flame that is consuming both the wax and the oxygen. Carbon dioxide (CO2), water(H2O), and carbon are produced. Further Investigations 9. Do you think a candle with a larger diameter would produce a larger flame? How could you find out? I think a candle with a larger diameter would not produce a larger flame. I can find out by burning a candle with a large diameter and another with a small diameter under the same conditions. Then I would record my data. 10. What do you think is the purpose of the candle wick? Do you think size makes a difference? How can you find out? I think the purpose of the candle wick is to have molten wax travel up continuously up to feed the flame. The size of the wick makes a difference. I can try testing my hypothesis by burning a candle with a thick wick and another candle with a thinner wick.

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