Why Does Water Rise in a Test Tube When a Candle Burns?

AI Thread Summary
When a test tube is placed over a burning candle in a petri dish with water, the candle extinguishes due to the depletion of oxygen. The combustion process consumes oxygen and produces carbon dioxide, which dissolves in the water, leading to a decrease in gas volume inside the test tube. This reduction in gas volume creates a drop in pressure, causing the water from the dish to rise into the test tube. The relationship between temperature and pressure plays a role, as the system's closure leads to changes in pressure dynamics when the candle burns out. Overall, the rise of water is primarily attributed to the consumption of oxygen and the resulting decrease in gas volume and pressure.
rdgt3000
Messages
8
Reaction score
0
Why is it that when you place a test tube over a burning candle in a peatree dish with water, that the candle goes out and then the water from the dish rises into the test tube. Mainly what are the reasons that the water rises. I am kind of going with the "temperature and pressure are related" idea but I am not quite sure if that is right. Thanks for the help!
 
Chemistry news on Phys.org
My guess is that by closing up the system, the temperature increases, compensated by the dramatic decrease in volume.
 
Candle uses all oxygen and goes off. Produced carbon dioxide solves in water and that's why gas volume in the test tube decreases - and water goes up.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Thread 'How to make Sodium Chlorate by Electrolysis of salt water?'

Thread 'How to make Sodium Chlorate by Electrolysis of salt water?'

I have a power supply for electrolysis of salt water brine, variable 3v to 6v up to 30 amps. Cathode is stainless steel, anode is carbon rods. Carbon rod surface area 42" sq. the Stainless steel cathode should be 21" sq. Salt is pure 100% salt dissolved into distilled water. I have been making saturated salt wrong. Today I learn saturated salt is, dissolve pure salt into 150°f water cool to 100°f pour into the 2 gallon brine tank. I find conflicting information about brine tank...
View full post »

Thread 'Ruthenium-Iridium compound with catalytic effects'

Engineers slash iridium use in electrolyzer catalyst by 80%, boosting path to affordable green hydrogen https://news.rice.edu/news/2025/engineers-slash-iridium-use-electrolyzer-catalyst-80-boosting-path-affordable-green Ruthenium is also fairly expensive (a year ago it was about $490/ troy oz, but has nearly doubled in price over the past year, now about $910/ troy oz). I tracks prices of Pt, Pd, Ru, Ir and Ru. Of the 5 metals, rhodium (Rh) is the most expensive. A year ago, Rh and Ir...
View full post »

Similar threads

Impact of Atmospheric Pressure on the Water in a Tank and a Pipe
Replies
6
Views
6K
Explaining Pressure: Candle + Water + Jar Experiment
Replies
3
Views
5K
Breaking the surface tension of a droplet within a tube
Replies
8
Views
3K
Simple experiment to measure atmospheric Oxygen
Replies
4
Views
4K
Understanding the Science Behind the Candle Under Drinking Glass Experiment
Replies
3
Views
3K
Chemically regenerating my auto's catalytic converter?
Replies
19
Views
7K
B Why does mercury rise in a glass capillary tube despite its strong cohesion?
Replies
3
Views
3K
Why Does Alka-Seltzer Acidify Water but Act as an Antacid?
Replies
1
Views
4K
Why Did the Temperature Rise in a Sealed Automotive Cooling System?
Replies
18
Views
2K
Best Temperature of water for Rinsing Dishes?
Replies
33
Views
74K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top