Hooked on science: A look at fire extinguisher chemistry

Have you ever wondered how a fire extinguisher works? If so, grab a few ingredients from around the house to create your own fire extinguisher. An adult should be present for this experiment.

Materials:

* Baking soda

* Vinegar

* Mason jar

* Tea candle

Instructions:

STEP 1: Place enough baking soda in the Mason jar to cover the bottom.

STEP 2: Light the candle and place it in the bottom of the Mason jar.

STEP 3: Pour two tablespoons of vinegar into the Mason jar. Make sure you do not pour the vinegar on the candle.

Explanation:

Fire needs oxygen to burn. When you added the vinegar to the baking soda a reaction took place, creating carbon dioxide gas. As the carbon dioxide gas filled up the jar it replaced the oxygen, extinguishing the flame.

Jason Lindsey is a Science Outreach Educator with Hooked on Science. Check out his website "Hooked On Science" at hookedonscience.org for webcasts and experiments that might get you hooked on science. Send him your science questions at jlindsey@hookedonscience.org. More science experiments can be found at www.semissourian.com.