Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 6

Report - Essay Example In particular, report discusses the result of the experiment and includes their meaning within the context of chemistry. The first experiment dealt with the observations when a candle is lit. On lighting the candle, only its wick burnt. However, after about 5 seconds, the heat from the burning weak melted some candle. This had the effect of increasingly brightening the flame from the candle. It seemed like the molten candle was acting as the flame’s source of fuel. The experiment aimed at establishing if oxygen was necessary for the sustenance of a burning process. When the burning candle was covered with a 400ml beaker, it burned for about 10 seconds before going off. A repeat of the procedure produced a similar result. The candle went off after 10 seconds. The third experiment involved testing for carbon dioxide. This entailed collecting the contents of the overturned beaker then testing its content with limewater. When limewater was immediately swirled inside the 400ml beaker, the contents immediately turned cloudy. The fourth experiment entailed the examination if water was a by-product in the burning candle. When the 400ml beaker was held upside down over the candle. The bottom of the beaker became immediately moist. However, when the beaker was held longer over the candle, the moisture like substance dried leaving behind a round patch. According to O’Hare (2007), when a candle burns, combustion takes place and both carbon dioxide and water are the resulting products. Reportedly, the candle is a type of fuel called a hydrocarbon. Hydrocarbons are rich in carbon and hydrogen molecules. Additionally, its weak structure means that it has a lower melting point. That is why in the first experiment, it was observed that the candle immediately began to melt when the wick was lit. The brightening of the candle was due to an exposure to a substantial amount of fuel. O’Hare (2007) denotes that when a hydrocarbon like a candle burns, it follows