The Chemical History of the Candle

We will use the lectures Michael Faraday delivered in 1861 as a starting point to discuss scientific methods and experimentation, chemical composition of wax, combustion reactions, forces and energy, and the history of the human scientific endeavor. Faraday is still regarded as one of the greatest experimental scientists of all time, and his lectures are filled with his excitement over the wonders of natural phenomena, as well as detailed observations on the behavior of elements like hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon, and practical demonstrations of experimental observational methods.
All students will perform several of Faraday's experiments (adapted for safety and easy home performance) so they can develop proper experimental techniques. Then we will write up our results and discuss them. This is an excellent opportunity for junior high and early high school students to prepare for high school level science courses.