activity 17: Flaming Fruit If you don't want to eat your fruit, you can always try toasting it… Ingredients: Some matches. A birthday candle. Citrus fruits, such as lemon, orange, satsuma or lime. Warning! Handle these ingredients with care and ALWAYS pay attention to safety when using candles. You can do this by: Protect your eyes by wearing glasses or goggles. Conduct the experiment in a well-ventilated area, away from flammable materials. Attend to a lit candle at all times. Extinguish the flame as soon as you have finished the experiment, and make it's out before putting it away. Warn observers to stand back before you try the experiment. What to do: Peel the rind off your fruit. Light the candle, and hold the outside of the rind close to the flame. Gently squeeze the rind- and keep your eyes peeled for a flash of light! Whats Happening! The skin of a citrus fruit contains oil, which is forced out when you squeeze it. The oil vapourises when it's heated, and when it ignites will burn with a bright light. More! 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 are both used for medicinal purposes, and many more are put to a variety of good uses, such as cleaning and aromatherapy.
	<< Go Back