The Chemical History of a Candle

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A close-up image of a candle showing the wick and the various parts of the flame
Title page to the first edition

The Chemical History of a Candle was the title of a series of six lectures on the chemistry and physics of flames given by Michael Faraday at the Royal Institution. This was the origin of the Christmas lectures for young people that are still given there every year and bear his name.

The lecture described the different zones of combustion in the candle flame, and the presence of carbon particles in the luminescent zone.

The lectures were first printed as a book in 1861.

[edit] Contents of the Six Lectures

Lecture 1: A Candle: The Flame - Its Sources - Structure - Mobility - Brightness

Lecture 2: Brightness of the Flame - Air necessary for Combustion - Production of Water

Lecture 3: Products: Water from the Combustion - Nature of Water - A Compound - Hydrogen

Lecture 4: Hydrogen in the Candle - Burns into Water - The Other Part of Water - Oxygen

Lecture 5: Oxygen present in the Air - Nature of the Atmosphere - Its Properties - Other Products from the Candle - Carbonic Acid - Its Properties

Lecture 6: Carbon or Charcoal - Coal Gas Respiration and its Analogy to the Burning of a Candle - Conclusion

[edit] External links

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