Chemistry
Combustion of a Candle
Guiding question: What makes a candle burn?
Procedure
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 Form into teams of 2 students and obtain a candle, a piece of aluminum
foil, a metric ruler, a safety match and a stopwatch.
 Prepare your own data sheet to record observations, calculations and
analysis. Place your names and period at the top of your data sheet.
 Measure and record the length of your candle in cm.
 Place the candle on a small piece of aluminum foil and mass the combined
foil-candle system. Record results on your data sheet.
 Light the candle and start the stopwatch.
Observe the candle burn. Record your observations on your data sheet.
o Draw an illustration of the candle burning. Label the parts of the candle.
o Describe and label on your drawing the 3 phases that you see…solid / liquid /
gas
o Is the wick burning or the wax?
o Is the wax burning as a solid, liquid or a gas? How do you know? Record your
observation
o What colors do you see in the flame? Record your observation
After approximately 5 minutes extinguish the flame and record the exact amount of time
that the candle burned.
Take final measurements and record.
o Mass of the foil-candle system
o Length of the candle
Calculations & Analysis-Record answers on the data sheet you created.
1. Calculate and record the mass of the candle that was burned
o How many grams were consumed per minute (60 seconds) of time?
2. Calculate and record the length of candle consumed.
o How many grams / cm of candle?
After you have collected your data and made observations, you and your
partner are to create a mini-poster that follows the argument card given to
you in class.