Carbon Sugar Snake
PRESENTATION BY PRERNA, ANA & RYLIND
Introduction
The Carbon Sugar Snake
experiment demonstrates a
chemical reaction which
involves a mixture of sugar
and baking soda to produce
a snake-like structure made of
carbon when ignited. This
experiment shows the
principles of combustion and
thermal decomposition in a
fun and engaging way.
OBJECTIVES OF THE EXPERIMENT
• To observe the combustion and
decomposition processes.
• To understand the role of each
component in the reaction.
• To observe the reaction of the mixture
due to vaporisation of water and CO2.
Objectives
Hypothesis
If the mixture of sugar,
sand and baking soda Sugar
are ignited with lighter
fluid in the presence of
oxygen, then a carbon
snake will form due to
combustion and
decomposition reactions.
Materials
MATERIALS NEEDED
• Pie tin
• Sand
• Baking soda (1 tsp)
• Powdered sugar (4 tsp)
• Mixing bowl
• Lighter fluid or ethanol
• Lighter
STEP 1: Combine 4 tsp of powdered
sugar with 1 tsp of baking soda in a bowl.
STEP 2: Fill the pie tin with sand and
create a small mound in the middle. Use
your knuckle to make an indent in the
middle of the mound.
Methods -
Preparation
STEP 3: Pour lighter fluid on the
mound and in the indentation. Make
sure that the sand is well soaked.
STEP 4: Add your sugar and baking
soda mix into the center of the
mound.
Methods -
Setting Up
STEP 5: Carefully light the sand near the
sugar mixture. (An adult should perform or
carefully supervise this step, if needed.)
• The sugar and baking soda mix will
begin to bubble and turn black. As the
mixture burns, watch as your snake begins
to grow and take shape. It is a slow
process so be patient!
Methods -
Execution
Results
• The experiment produces a
long, black carbon snake.
• Solids produced: carbon
and sodium carbonate.
• Gases produced: carbon
dioxide and water vapor.
1. COMBUSTION OF SUGAR:
C6H12O6 (5) + 6O2 (g) → 6CO2 (g) + 6H2O (g)
• Sugar burns in the presence of oxygen, producing
carbon dioxide gas and water vapour.
2. THERMAL DECOMPOSITION OF SUGAR:
C6H12O6 (5) → 6C (s) + 6H2O (g)
• Additional sugar heats up without oxygen, producing
solid carbon and more water vapor.
3. DECOMPOSITION OF BAKING SODA:
2NaHCO3 (s) → Na2CO3 (s) + CO2(g) + H2O (g)
• Baking soda decomposes in the heat, producing solid
sodium carbonate, carbon dioxide gas, and water vapor.
Analysis -
Reactions
• The sand does not
chemically react with the
growing snake.
• It only distributes the
heat evenly from the
burning lighter fluid to the
sugar and baking soda.
Analysis -
Role of Sand
FACTORS AFFECTING THE REACTION RATE:
Temperature: Higher temperatures increase reaction
rates.
Concentration: The amount of sugar and baking soda
can affect the rate.
Catalysts: Presence of lighter fluid as a heat source
accelerates the reaction.
ENTROPY CHANGE:
There is an increase in entropy due to the production of
gases from solid and liquid reactants.
TYPE OF REACTION:
Additional It is an exothermic combustion reaction because it
releases energy in the form of heat, which is evident from
Information the burning and formation of the carbon snake.
• The Carbon Sugar Snake experiment
demonstrates the chemical reactions
involved in combustion and
decomposition effectively.
• The role of each substance is crucial
in producing the long, black carbo is
cruci
• The experiment provides a visual and
engaging way to learn about chemical
Conclusion reactions and the formation of new
substances.
Bibliography
“Carbon Sugar Snake | DIY for Beginners | KiwiCo.” KiwiCo,
[Link]/diy/stem/crazy-chemistry/carbon-sugar-snake.
Thank You!