The Chemical History of a Candle was the title
of a series of six lectures on the chemistry
and physics of flames given by Michael Faraday
at the Royal Institution in 1848, as part
of the series of Christmas lectures for young
people founded by Faraday in 1825 and still
given there every year.
The lectures described the different zones
of combustion in the candle flame and the
presence of carbon particles in the luminescent
zone.
Demonstrations included the production and
examination of the properties of hydrogen,
oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide gases.
An electrolysis cell is demonstrated, first
in the electroplating of platinum conductors
by dissolved copper, then the production of
hydrogen and oxygen gases and their recombination
to form water.
The properties of water itself are studied,
including its expansion while freezing (iron
vessels are burst by this expansion), and
the relative volume of steam produced when
water is vaporized.
Techniques for weighing gases on a balance
are demonstrated.
Atmospheric pressure is described and its
effects demonstrated.
Faraday emphasizes that several of the demonstrations
and experiments performed in the lectures
may be performed by children "at home" and
makes several comments regarding proper attention
to safety.
The lectures were first printed as a book
in 1861.
In 2016, Bill Hammack published a video series
of the lectures supplemented by commentary
and a companion book.
Faraday's ideas are still used as the basis
for open teaching about energy in modern primary
and secondary schools
== 
Contents of the six lectures ==
Lecture 1: A Candle: The Flame - Its Sources
- Structure - Mobility - Brightness
Lecture 2: Brightness of the Flame - Air necessary
for Combustion - Production of Water
Lecture 3: Products: Water from the Combustion
- Nature of Water - A Compound - Hydrogen
Lecture 4: Hydrogen in the Candle - Burns
into Water - The Other Part of Water - Oxygen
Lecture 5: Oxygen present in the Air - Nature
of the Atmosphere - Its Properties - Other
Products from the Candle - Carbonic Acid - Its
Properties
Lecture 6: Carbon or Charcoal - Coal Gas Respiration
and its Analogy to the Burning of a Candle
- Conclusion
