The Chemical History of a Candle

Chemical History of a Candle,
The

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Title: The Chemical History Of A Candle
Author: Michael Faraday
Release Date: December 26, 2004 [EBook #14474] [Date last updated:
October 1, 2005]
Language: English
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THE CHEMICAL HISTORY OF A CANDLE

A COURSE OF LECTURES DELIVERED BEFORE A JUVENILE
AUDIENCE AT THE ROYAL INSTITUTION
BY
MICHAEL FARADAY, D.C.L., F.R.S.
EDITED BY
WILLIAM CROOKES, F.C.S.
A NEW IMPRESSION, WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
LONDON
CHATTO & WINDUS
1908

PREFACE
From the primitive pine-torch to the paraffin candle, how wide an
interval! between them how vast a contrast! The means adopted by man
to illuminate his home at night, stamp at once his position in the scale
of civilisation. The fluid bitumen of the far East, blazing in rude vessels
of baked earth; the Etruscan lamp, exquisite in form, yet ill adapted to
its office; the whale, seal, or bear fat, filling the hut of the Esquimaux
or Lap with odour rather than light; the huge wax candle on the
glittering altar, the range of gas lamps in our streets,--all have their
stories to tell. All, if they could speak (and, after their own manner,
they can), might warm our hearts in telling, how they have ministered
to man's comfort, love of home, toil, and devotion.
Surely, among the millions of fire-worshippers and fire-users who have
passed away in earlier ages, some have pondered over the mystery of
fire; perhaps some clear minds have guessed shrewdly near the truth.
Think of the time man has lived in hopeless ignorance: think that only

during a period which might be spanned by the life of one man, has the
truth been known.
Atom by atom, link by link, has the reasoning chain been forged. Some
links, too quickly and too slightly made, have given way, and been
replaced by better work; but now the great phenomena are known--the
outline is correctly and firmly drawn--cunning artists are filling in the
rest, and the child who masters these Lectures knows more of fire than
Aristotle did.
The candle itself is now made to light up the dark places of nature; the
blowpipe and the prism are adding to our knowledge of the earth's crust;
but the torch must come first.
Among the readers of this book some few may devote themselves to
increasing the stores of knowledge: the Lamp of Science must burn.
"_Alere flammam._"
W. CROOKES.

CONTENTS.
LECTURE I.
A CANDLE: THE FLAME--ITS
SOURCES--STRUCTURE--MOBILITY--BRIGHTNESS
LECTURE II.
BRIGHTNESS OF THE FLAME--AIR NECESSARY FOR
COMBUSTION--PRODUCTION OF WATER
LECTURE III.
PRODUCTS: WATER FROM THE COMBUSTION--NATURE OF
WATER--A COMPOUND--HYDROGEN

LECTURE IV.
HYDROGEN IN THE CANDLE--BURNS INTO WATER--THE
OTHER PART OF WATER--OXYGEN
LECTURE V.
OXYGEN PRESENT IN THE AIR--NATURE OF THE
ATMOSPHERE--ITS PROPERTIES--OTHER PRODUCTS FROM
THE CANDLE--CARBONIC ACID--ITS PROPERTIES
LECTURE VI.
CARBON OR CHARCOAL--COAL GAS--RESPIRATION AND ITS
ANALOGY TO THE BURNING OP A CANDLE--CONCLUSION
LECTURE ON PLATINUM.
NOTES.

THE CHEMICAL HISTORY OF A CANDLE
LECTURE I.
A CANDLE: THE FLAME--ITS
SOURCES--STRUCTURE--MOBILITY--BRIGHTNESS.
I purpose, in return for the honour you do us by coming to see what are
our proceedings here, to bring before you, in the course of these
lectures, the Chemical History of a Candle. I have taken this subject on
a former occasion; and were it left to my own will, I should prefer to
repeat it almost every year--so abundant is the interest that attaches
itself to the subject, so wonderful are the varieties of outlet which it
offers into the various departments of philosophy. There is not a law
under which any part of this universe is governed which does not come
into play, and is touched upon in these phenomena. There is no better,
there is no more open door by which you can enter into the study of

natural philosophy, than by considering the physical phenomena of a
candle. I trust, therefore, I shall not disappoint you in choosing this for
my subject rather than any newer topic, which could not be better, were
it even so good.
And before proceeding, let me say this also--that though our subject be
so great, and our intention that of treating it honestly, seriously, and
philosophically, yet I mean to pass away from all those who are seniors
amongst us. I claim the privilege of speaking to juveniles as a juvenile
myself. I have done so