The chemistry of candles

In this video a few experiments with candles are shown and a few facts are given.
Patreon: / randomexperimentsinter...

[@vibzzlab]

thank you for the video. Nice to see you again in KZbin after a long gap

[@realedna]

LOL, I noticed you were reminding people (chemistry channels) a few times of our strict rules in Germany regarding "home chemistry", which are becoming more and more strict each year to the point it's getting really annoying. Now you're back talking about the chemistry of candles and stuff, because much of all else is uselessly prohibited!? Pure comedy! If everyone is just complying, let's see where it will take us and this hobby. Although it's probably good content for children. 😆

[@RaExpIn]

This one was just a simple fun project I did in the few hours I could find to do any experiments. The ban on sulfuric acid and iodine hit very hard, but there's still enough awesome and legal chemistry that I can and will do :)

[@Palmit_]

@@RaExpIn- H2SO4 fecked me also. so i bought from ebay. first from france, no problem. but then changed search term to "battery electrolyte" to get shorter delivery times as they came from my own country (Oxford, UK). Thanks for your vids. Science isn't a crime. inhibiting the sharing of science and knowleddge is a crime. in my mind, REACH is cotton wool for the stupid.

[@realedna]

​@@Palmit_ Yes, politicians are definitely overREACHing here. I understand the problem of pollution and lack of supervision though. Maybe society will find a way to setup community labs, where people can experiment seriously including proper disposal of chemicals and some form of supervision and guidance. Maybe even allowances for the private handling of certain chemicals for an average person with the approved knowledge could be possible. Chemistry students with no prior knowledge do get access to all kinds of stuff without permanent supervision as well. Just stricter rules for normal citizens shouldn't leave us with a vacuum of opportunities. This will only increase criminal acts or seize all interest in (practical) sciences.

[@maximilianmusterhans4659]

You should think about why the rules are getting more strict every year. It's obviously not because of a growing number of hobby chemist accidents. The general public also has absolutely no awareness of these changes in legislation, and if they had, they would not agree with them. Yet they are implemented.

[@ugarit5404]

I will try the blown out candle trick to show my children. Thanks for the video!

[@PotionsMaster666]

Awesome ! Faraday would be proud ❤️

[@RaExpIn]

Thanks! Yes, the idea came from his original script!

[@mystorey]

Ok this is new to me 5:52 Looks like a magician's trick but is science

[@sashimanu]

Candles are made of lots of stuff, including beeswax, rendered vegetable oils (palm/ palm kernel oils, often found in tea candles) and, historically, animal fats such as lard and blubber.

[@RaExpIn]

Yes, it's possible to turn almost anything into a candle that is solid at room temperature, easily liquifies and burns. A plain stick of butter f.e. just needs a wick :) But in the usual stores you can often find only a few out of paraffin, stearin or bees wax.

[@user255]

It would be interesting if the wax vapor composition could be identified. Surely simple shorter hydrocarbons, but anything interesting?

[@RaExpIn]

A mass spectrometer would answer that question. I'd guess carbon monoxide, dioxide and hydrogen would also be present.

[@user255]

@@RaExpIn Sure, I was thinking maybe there could be something more complicated.

[@pillepolle3122]

thanks to the gayest person on patreon !

[@RaExpIn]

It always makes me smile, while editing :D

[@tahallium]

next: dissolve candle with fluoroantimonic acid

[@RaExpIn]

There are a lot of achievements I have, when doing chemistry experiments, but working with HF and most chemistry related to it is somewhat low on the list.

[@Palmit_]

@@RaExpIn ..