How To Put Out A Candle Without Blowing It

WARNING- this experiment must only be carried out with an adult present

Step 1: You will need

Step 2: Aim

The aim of this experiment is to blow out the flame using carbon dioxide gas

Step 3: Method

Take the two candles and place them next to each other in the bowl.

Then pour in about 100ml of vinegar. Be careful you don't spill it as this stuff really smells!

Now it's time to light the candles. Make sure there is an adult around to help you do this.

Add half a tablespoon of bicarbonate of soda, sit back, and watch. It should start to bubble furiously. A chemical reaction is taking place that is producing invisible carbon dioxide gas. The candles go out as the gas rises; the shorter one goes out first, and then the taller one.

Step 4: Conclusion

Why did this happen?
When the vinegar and bicarbonate of soda came into contact, there was a chemical reaction which created water and carbon dioxide gas.

The flame needed oxygen to keep burning. As the carbon dioxide filled up the bowl, the flame was starved of oxygen, and went out.