Chem Matters - History of Candles

Who gave a lecture in December 1860, asserting that the best example of nature's beauty is the humble candle?

• Isaac Newton

• Albert Einstein

• Michael Faraday

• Marie Curie

What are the three basic ingredients of a candle as mentioned in the text?

Which civilization is credited with adding a papyrus wick to the candle more than 2,000 years ago?

• The ancient Egyptians

• The Romans

• The Chinese

• The Indians

According to the text, how long ago did ancient Egyptians use an early form of candles?

What does examining the burning of candles, as ancient as they are, still do according to Faraday's point?

What are waxes generally made from?

• Synthetic materials only

• Plants, animals, and petroleum

• Minerals and water

• Air and sunlight

What is the primary reaction involved in the hydrogenation of vegetable oils to form wax?

• The addition of oxygen to vegetable oils

• The reduction of double and triple bonds by molecular hydrogen

• The removal of carbon atoms from vegetable oils

• The combination of vegetable oils with water

What did Antoine Lavoisier contribute to the understanding of combustion?

• He discovered the role of water in combustion

• He found that light was necessary for combustion

• He identified oxygen's role in combustion

• He proved that combustion does not require air

What is actually burning when a candle is lit?

• The wick itself

• The solid wax only

• The gaseous form of the wax

• The match used to light the candle

What phenomenon allows the liquid wax in a candle to be drawn up into the wick?

• Gravity

• Capillary action

• Magnetic force

• Electrical charge