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Flaming Fruit
Fascinating Food
Why eat your oranges raw when you can toast them
Age range 12-14 with adult supervision
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Some matches
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A candle
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Citrus fruits, such as lemon, orange, satsuma or lime
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Protect your eyes by wearing safety glasses or goggles.
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Conduct the experiment in a well-ventilated area, away from flammable materials.
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Attend to a lit candle at all times. Extinguish the flame as soon as you have finished the experiment, and make sure it's out before putting it away.
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Warn observers to stand back before you try the experiment.
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Peel the rind off your fruit.
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Light the candle.
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Gently fold the rind of your fruit, hold close to the flame and squeeze.
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Keep your eyes peeled for a flash of light!
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The skin of citrus fruits contains a volatile oil. (Volatile means it vaporises easily.) This oil is forced out of the orange’s skin when you squeeze it.
The heat from the candle vaporises the oil and then the vapour ignites, producing a bright flare.
Many plants contain volatile oils which have been useful to humans over the centuries. Some, like olive oil, we eat. Others, like rosemary and citronella, are known to keep biting insects at bay. Teatree and eucalyptus oils are both used for medicinal purposes, and many more are put to a variety of good uses, such as cleaning and aromatherapy. Citrus oils are becoming more popular for cleaning.
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Anne McNaught, Planet Science web editor.
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Handle these ingredients with care and always pay attention to safety when using candles.
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