In this Activity, students compare the combustion of substances such as a glowing wooden toothpick and a lit birthday candle in air, oxygen, exhaled breath, and carbon dioxide environments. The oxygen and carbon dioxide gases are generated in glass bottles using household chemicals. Oxygen is generated using chlorine bleach and 3% hydrogen peroxide; carbon dioxide is generated using baking soda and 5% vinegar. The Activity can be used to explore the chemistry of oxygen and combustion, and may be used to illustrate reaction kinetics, in particular the effect of reactant (oxygen) concentration on the apparent rate of a combustion reaction.
The "Chemistry Teacher Connection" (CTC) is especially for high school chemistry teachers. For only $40/year, it offers an online-only subscription to CLIC along with membership in the Division of Chemical Education, normally $65/year. CTC subscribers receive access to all articles and supplements from 1996 through the current issue.
Through special arrangement with the ACS, JCE High School CLIC is now able to provide subscribers with online access to Chemical & Engineering News articles that have been selected specifically for secondary science instructors and their students.
Occasionally, collections of JCE back issues become available for donation to individual teachers, schools, or libraries. JCE matches collections with interested recipients. Recipients pay shipping costs or pick up the collection.