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Using Vinegar & Baking Soda to Extinguish a Candle

April 12, 2013 By Jackie 3 Comments

Using Vinegar & Baking Soda to Extinguish a Candle

My 10 year old son checked out a book of science experiments from the library. The book was quite old, but he really enjoyed reading it.

There was one experiment he wanted to do more than any other, probably because it involved fire. 🙂

Yesterday we gave it a whirl. Here’s how we did it.

Supplies

  • 1/2 Cup Vinegar
  • 1 tsp. Baking Soda (heaping)
  • Cup (bigger than 8 ounces)
  • Piece of Cardboard or a Small Plate
  • Candle
  • Matches
  • Piece of Paper
  • Measuring Cups & Spooons

Using Vinegar & Baking Soda to Extinguish a Candle 2

Instructions

1. Fold the piece of paper in half lengthwise.

2. Pour 1/2 cup of vinegar into a cup.

Using Vinegar & Baking Soda to Extinguish a Candle 3

2. Add the heaping teaspoon of baking soda to the cup.

Using Vinegar & Baking Soda to Extinguish a Candle 4

3. Place the cardboard or plate (We found the small plate worked best.) over the cup.

4. Light the candle.

Using Vinegar & Baking Soda to Extinguish a Candle 5

The picture above shows why I said to use a cup that holds more than 8 ounces. Our cardboard got soaked and the cup overflowed.

Using Vinegar & Baking Soda to Extinguish a Candle 6

When we switched to the larger cup and a plate the experiment worked better.

Using Vinegar & Baking Soda to Extinguish a Candle 7

5. Have one person hold the paper, or trough, so that it angles towards the candle.

Be careful not to get too close or you will catch the paper on fire.

Using Vinegar & Baking Soda to Extinguish a Candle 8

6. Have another person take the lid off of the cup and aim it down the paper trough.

The carbon dioxide will be released from the cup and will extinguish the candle.

My son was so excited that the experiment worked, he wanted me to videotape him trying it again.

While the experiment didn’t work in the video, I think you will get a kick out of what happened at the end.

Plus, my son did a good job explaining the process of the experiment, if I do say so myself. 🙂

If you are reading this via email or in a reader you may need to visit the blog to see the video.

While simply blowing out the candle would have been a simpler way to understand how carbon dioxide extinguishes a flame, making a chemical reaction to do the job was much more interesting. 🙂

You might also like these posts.

Baking Soda in the Dishwasher dishwasherNatural Dishwasher Detergent Homemade Baking MixHomemade Baking Mixes Flower Prints Using Soda Bottles

Filed Under: Activities for Kids

« Homemade Slice & Bake Sugar Cookies
A Surprise Party, a Flower Arranging Tip, & How I Avoided a Panic Attack »
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  • Rachel Aulet-McGann

    This is so cute! I can’t wait to try it with my little ones. The “nooooo” at the end of the video was priceless. You and your son did a great job! -Rachel drowninginapplesauce.blogspot.com

    • Jackie

      Thank you, Rachel! 🙂 I enjoyed looking at your site.

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In 2014 I closed my blog Pocketful of Posies. All of the posts from Pocketful of Posies are now in the Activities for Kids category on this blog. Some of the pictures didn't transfer over, but I'm working on it.

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