VanCleave's Science Fun

Your Guide to Science Projects, Fun Experiments, and Science Research

ABOUT THE SOUND PICTURE

With mouth wide open, vibrating air coming up the throat from the vocal chords leaving the open mouth and spreading in all directions. Hi, I am Janice VanCleave, author of 50+ best-selling science experiment books for children ages 4 through high school. I taught science for 27 years and now am creating this science website.   My scream was not staged. The picture was to be of two adult cats, which I was holding. A microsecond before the camera snapped, the two cats dug their claws into my skin as they prepared to leap out of my arms. A picture like this is great for making inferences. Kids could make "guesses" as to why I am screaming. They would be drawing on facts from the photo, such as I look like I am in pain or maybe I am just pretending.

Sound Supplies and Sound Investigations

Educational Innovation Sound Supplies A black and yellow logo for Educational Innovations. A place to find fun science supplies.
Home » Diamonds to Gas

Diamonds to Gas

By

Smoking Diamonds

Did you know that a diamond will burn?

At one time it was believed that objects burned because fire could enter them. Very hard things didn’t burn because there was no spaces for the fire to enter. Thus, diamonds were thought to be too hard to burn.

Many early “scientists” did not experiment to confirm their ideas.

In the 1700’s two chemists, Lavoisier and Priestly, were able to cause a diamond to burn by using a magnifying lens to focus sunlight on the gem. YIKES!!!
I wonder if their  wives found the diamonds in their rings missing? And, what kind of magnifying lens did they use?

The kindling temperature (combustion temperature) is the temperature at which a material catching on fire.

Since a diamond burns at a temperature of about 1,4000 F (760 0 C) or higher, these scientists were not using a magnifying lens from the local store. Hey! What am I thinking! Scientists at this time basically designed and build their own equipment.

1. What is combustion?

Combustion means to catch on fire.

2, What is needed for combustion?

oxygen, fuel (something that will burn), kindling temperature

2. What happens when a diamond burns?

A diamond is made of the element carbon.
Yep! This is the same element that forms coal.

When carbon burns it combines with oxygen forming carbon dioxide gas.

C  +  O 2   ———>  CO2

Janice VanCleave's Chemistry for Every Kid Book is a basic science experiment book, designed to help kids to learn, and adults to teach the fun of learning chemistry concepts.

Chemistry for Every Kid

Each of the 101 chemistry experiments has a purpose, list of materials, step-by-step instructions and illustrations, expected results, and a science explanation in understandable terms.

(paid link)