Experiment: Burning fuels

Aim: To burn and investigate the nature of fuels

Materials: methylated spirits/alcohol, candle, meths burner, bunsen burner, paraffin, tin lid or porcelain dish, tongs

Method

1. Light a meths burner and observe the flame
2. Burn a small amount of alcohol on a tine lid, holding the lid with tongs
3. Light a candle and ty burning a piece of candle wax on the tin without a wick
4. Burn a small amount of paraffin  on a tin lid

Observation and Results

Different fuel have different flame colours. Images credit previewdns.com

• Different fuels burn with different colours
• Paraffin burns with a yellow flame
• Wax also burns with a yellow/orange flame
• Gas burns with a blue flame
• Alcohol/Methylated spirit burns with a blue flame
• Wax will not burn without a wick
• Gas is the cleanest fuel as it produces the least amount of soot/smoke
• It would be the most efficient fuel as all the carbon in it is utilized to produce energy
• Alcohol burns without a wick but it produces a lot of soot/smoke

Conclusion

• Different fuels burn with different friends
• Some fuels will either not burn well or will not burn at all without a wick for example candle wax

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