Frostbite Theater - Here's a Question!

Here's a Question! - Gas on a Flame

A small amount of vinegar and baking soda are mixed in a beaker next to a lit candle. Once the reaction settles down, the beaker is tilted a bit as it's held near the candle. What happens to the flame?

[ Show Transcript ]

Announcer: Frostbite Theater presents... Cold Cuts! No baloney!

Joanna and Steve: Just science!

Joanna: Hi! I'm Joanna!

Steve: And I'm Steve!

Joanna: Here's a question for you...

Steve: A small amount of vinegar and baking soda are mixed in a beaker next to a lit candle.

Joanna: Once the reaction settles down, the beaker is tilted a bit as it's held near the candle.

Steve: What happens to the flame?

Joanna: Does it go out?

Steve: Does it stay the same?

Joanna: Does it burn brighter?

Steve: Or, does it explode?

Joanna: Pause the video now if you'd like to think it over before we show you what happens.

Mixing baking soda and vinegar creates carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is denser than air, so it collects in the beaker.

Steve: Tilting the beaker pours the carbon dioxide out of the beaker, where it falls onto the candle.

Joanna: While a few things will burn in carbon dioxide, happily for us, candle wax isn't one of them. The carbon dioxide cuts off the flame's oxygen supply, smothering it.

Thanks for watching. I hope you'll join us again soon for another question!

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