======Edible Candle======


<WRAP right box>
**Materials: **{{$demo.materials_description}}\\
**Difficulty: **{{$demo.difficulty_description}}\\
**Safety: **{{$demo.safety_description}}\\
\\
**Categories:** {{$demo.categories}}
\\


**Alternative titles:** Potato Candle, Observation vs Inference Candle
</WRAP>

====Summary====                   
{{$demo.summary}}



====Procedure====  
- Peel and cut a potato into a cylinder (like a candle).  
- Score a small groove in the top to hold the “wick.”  
- Insert a sliver of almond into the groove.  
- Light the almond with a lighter or match.  
- Present the burning “candle” to students and have them share their *observations* (e.g., “it has a flame,” “it looks like a candle”).  
- Ask for *inferences* (e.g., “it must be a real candle”).  
- Blow out the almond flame, wait about 10 seconds, then let students examine the object up close.



====Links==== 
Edible candle - Questacon: 
{{youtube>ojDNCKKGyvs?}}\\

📄 Edible candle - University of Waterloo: [[https://uwaterloo.ca/chem13-news-magazine/september-2017/feature/edible-candle#:~:text=In%20this%20demonstration%2C%20a%20peeled,and%20make%20observations%20about%20it.]]\\


====Variations====
- If almond allergies are a concern, use a small piece of white card instead of almond (it will burn briefly).  
- Try using other nuts that have high oil content.  
- Ask students to predict what might happen if you relight the almond multiple times.



====Safety Precautions====
- Only teachers should handle the knife and open flame.  
- Check for nut allergies before using almond.  
- Keep a fire extinguisher or bucket of sand nearby.  
- Allow almond to cool before letting students handle it.




====Questions to Consider====
- What observations did you make about the object?  
- What inferences did you draw from those observations?  
- Were your inferences correct? Why or why not?  
- How can we improve our observations in future experiments?