A Comprehensive General Chemistry Demonstration

Abstract

This article describes the use of a comprehensive demonstration suitable for a high school or first-year undergraduate introductory chemistry class. The demonstration involves placing a burning candle in a container adjacent to a beaker containing a basic solution with indicator. After adding a lid, the candle will extinguish and the produced carbon dioxide will react with the water to yield enough carbonic acid to neutralize the basic solution resulting in a change to the indicator. This demonstration includes aspects of most of the topics discussed in a typical general chemistry course. Two different methods are described to use this demonstration in a class: as a recurrent demonstration revisited regularly or as the basis for a cumulative oral final exam.