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Home-Made Fire Extinguisher

To print out a lab sheet for this experiment to turn in to your instructor, click here.


Materials
Balloon Rocket Materials

• Birthday candle

• Matches

• Clean, empty tuna can

• Baking soda

• Large bowl

• Vinegar


Instructions

1. Do this step only under adult supervision. Hold a lit match to the base of the candle. Drip some melted wax into the centre of the tuna can. While the wax is still soft, push the base of the candle into it, so that the candle stands up in the centre of the can.

2. Light the candle.

3. In the bowl put one tablespoon of baking soda and three tablespoons of vinegar. This will bubble and produce a gas.

4. Slowly pour the gas (but not the vinegar and baking soda!) over the candle flame. Make sure all of the vinegar and baking soda stay in the bowl.

5. Did the flame go out? If not, rinse out the bowl and try mixing a fresh batch of ingredients.




Report
To print out a lab sheet for this experiment to turn in to your instructor, click here.

Copyright © 2004 Peter Piper Publishing Inc.
Last updated August 26, 2004.