Combustion of Sugar

Combustion of Sugar

Purpose:

To observe a combustion reaction.

Approximately 45 minutes.

Materials: MUST USE GOGGLES, Girls tie your hair back.

Test tube

Test tube holder

Beakers

Sugar

Table bag with matches

Spoon

Candle

Procedure:

1. Add sugar to your test tube until the test tube is about one-third full.

2. Place the test tube in your empty beaker.

3. Light the candle with the matches.

4. Hold the test tube with the test tube holder. Make sure the test tube holder is holding tight so that the test tube does not slip out.

5. Hold the test tube over the candle flame. Point it sideways away from everyone.

Turn the test tube different ways so that the test tube is actually in the flame. It will take about 5-10 minutes or more to completely combust the sugar.

6. Record observations.

7. After test tube cools, put it in the broken glassware container by the sink.

8. Clean any materials that need cleaning and return to the table box. Place on the demo table where you found it.

NOTE: Please keep your candle on a paper towel so you don’t get wax on the table.

Observations:

Conclusion Questions:

1. What was the evidence that a chemical change occurred?

2. What is the combustion of sugar reaction?

3. What products are always produced in a combustion reaction?

4. What is the one reactant that must be present for a combustion reaction?

5. Draw a picture of the test tube as the sugar is combusting. Use color. Label where all the chemical changes are occurring and what they look like.

6. Give 5 other examples of combustion reactions. I don’t mean to write the chemical reaction – I mean verbal models or examples.