How to Produce CO2

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a common ingredient used in fire extinguishers. CO2 is surprisingly easy to make. You can even make your own CO2 fire extinguisher with normal household items.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Candle MatchesPitcherBaking sodaVinegar

1. Place the candle on a stable surface and light it using matches. Do this with parental supervision.

2. Pour 1 tbsp. of baking soda into the bottom of the pitcher.

3. Add 1 cup of vinegar to the baking soda. This will cause foam to build quickly and produce carbon dioxide (CO2) gas.

4. Carefully pour the pitcher over the candle, without pouring any of the liquid or foam out of the pitcher. The first thing to come out of the pitcher will be the CO2 gas, which is heavier than air. The CO2 will extinguish the fire on the candle.

Tips & Warnings

• If you use larger amounts of baking soda and vinegar, have a towel ready to clean up any overflow.
• Always use caution when handling fire. Wait until the chemical reaction (foam production) ceases before disposing of it in a drain. You don't want CO2 bubbles building up in your plumbing.

References

• Arm and Hammer: Variations on the Baking Soda/Vinegar Experiments
• ILoveBacteria.com: How Baking Soda and Vinegar Produce CO2

Resources

• Arm and Hammer: Experiment Page