Why does a candle burn underwater?

The water surrounding the candle absorbs the heat from the flame, causing the candle to burn differently than a normal candle. When you light your underwater candle, light a normal one so you can compare the two. Which one burns longer?

How does the underwater candle experiment work?

The physical aspect: the candle heats the air and expands it. This cancels the depletion of the oxygen temporarily and the water level stays down. When the oxygen is depleted, the candle goes out and the air cools. The volume of the air decreases and the water rises.

Why shouldn’t you put a candle out with water?

Burning wax is just like a grease fire on the stove in the kitchen – you should never use water on either. “You’re going to spread that fire and it’s going to splash on you and anything else around you that’s going to burn,” Brown said. The best way to put out a candle is to blow it out or put a lid on it.

How can fire burn underwater?

Fire requires a combustible substance and oxidizer to ignite. For underwater burning in Baltimore, since there’s no oxygen available underwater, the torch has two hoses that produce the combustible substance and oxygen gas. With careful application, a sustained fire can be created even underwater.

Why do candles stay lit in Coke?

The bubbles (or fizz) are a result of the reaction that comes from the carbon dioxide escaping the solution that remains. Carbon dioxide is more dense (heavier) than oxygen (which the candle needs to remain lit) therefore the oxygen is forced upwards away from the candle.

Do candles take oxygen out of the air?

Wax is made of hydrogen and carbon. When a candle burns, the hydrogen and carbon from the wax combine with the oxygen in the air to become carbon dioxide and water vapor. Most of the matter in the candle ends up as these two gases.

What happens when you put a glass over a candle in water?

What happens if you cover a lit candle in a water basin with a glass? The glass becomes foggy on the inside and the flame fades and eventually goes out. Then the water level in the glass rises. The burning candle produces carbon dioxide and water in the form of water vapor.

What is the purpose of the candle burning experiment?

The experiment teaches of role of oxygen in fire and its presence in the air. This one takes less than 5 minutes to complete it. Kids who are less than 5 can only understand that oxygen is required for a candle to burn and when we close with the glass tumbler oxygen goes off and hence the candle.

Is it possible to create fire underwater?

With careful application, a sustained fire can be created even underwater. Plasma cutting is a procedure for underwater burning in Baltimore that cuts electrically conductive materials.

How do scientists put out candles?

The carbon dioxide is heavier than air, so it will sit in the bottom of the glass. When you pour the gas from glass onto the candle, you are pouring out the carbon dioxide, which will sink and displace the (oxygen-containing) air surrounding the candle with carbon dioxide. This suffocates the flame and it goes out.

What happens when you pour baking soda and vinegar on a candle?

Vinegar mixed with dissolved baking soda causes a quick chemical reaction that creates the product carbon dioxide (CO2). If the chemical reaction occurs inside a beaker containing a lit candle, the carbon dioxide created will accumulate and push out the oxygen, thus extinguishing the flame.

Can you get carbon monoxide poisoning from a candle?

Candles can produce small levels of carbon monoxide due to the process of combustion which lights the candle. This will unlikely lead to carbon monoxide poisoning however as the amount is so small, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take some protective measures too.

Is it unhealthy to burn candles?

Exposure to chemicals emitted by scented candles “is so low that they pose no significant risk to human health,” she said. “Even the highest users of scented candles and other fragranced products are not putting themselves at any appreciable risk of harm.” According to Dr.

Why do candles rise in water?

Water rises in the glass as the temperature drops In other words, it is very hot. The gases in the vicinity expand, i.e., they take up more space. But when the candle is extinguished, the temperature drops immediately. So the gases trapped in the glass contract.

What happens if you cover a lit candle in a water basin with a glass?

What causes the water to rise up in the jar?

Water vapor condenses to moisture on the glass, causing lower air pressure. Outside air pressure does not change. To reach equilibrium, the area must decrease, so the water rises into the glass.

Can you keep a candle burning underwater?

Keep a Candle Burning Underwater! Magic tricks can’t hold a candle to this scientific triumph! Watch your child create a bizarre candle souvenir by getting a candle to burn below water. With just the open flame above the water’s surface, this process will transform the candle into a hollow tube of wax.

How does this underwater candle experiment work?

Let’s dive into the fun science behind how this underwater candle experiment works to find out! The magical science behind this candle and water experiment is really thanks to the high heat capacity of the water in the bowl surrounding the candle.

What causes a candle to burn in a waterless Bowl?

If you had lit and burned the candle in a waterless bowl, it would have burned normally and eventually consumed the whole candle. This is caused by the action of both heat flow and a high temperature. Get your child thinking: Why did the candle burn differently when he added water to the bowl?

Why does water keep the outside of a candle cold?

The water is able to keep the outside of the candle cold enough thanks to water’s incredible ability to absorb heat and energy, which is referred to as the heat capacity of water. For another cool way to demonstrate the heat capacity of water, check out this How to Fireproof a Balloon experiment!