Chemical Forums
Chemistry Forums for Students => High School Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: potatopotato on February 27, 2008, 09:44:57 PM
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During my experiment
When we were attempting to performed anaerobic fermentation of yeast by placing it in a sealed container (bag), mixed with sugar and water with limited air. After an hour, a splint was placed in the bag and instead of withering out (the fire), the fire continued to burn spontaneously. It would not make sense to think that carbon dioxide is being burned...as asked from last forum, but will it be possible that vaporized form of ethanol is being burned???
Thx
potatopotato ???
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No. For the ethanol to burn you need oxygen as well.
If by burn you actually mean combustion, then you has plenty of oxygen in your container. There are reactions that produce heat and light but are not technically burning or combustion (not likely in this case).
No oxygen = no combustion.
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You've got to try to ask yourself, what was the splint trying to test for. If the splint was to test for near complete consumption of oxygen, and saturation of the air with CO2, should the splint light? Does wood burn in an atmosphere of CO2. Does CO2 burn in an atmosphere of air, or oxygen or nitrogen. If not, does alcohol have a better chance? Where do you recall learning that? What have you learned about combustion so far?
Everything in your lab was likely in your book or taught to you in class, you're going very far afield in your search for answers.