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
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.
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