The Chemical History of the Candle

Michael Faraday (1791-1867) was one of the greatest experimental scientists the world has ever seen. His discoveries and inventions include the concept of the electric field, the electric motor, the electric generator, laws governing magnetic induction of electrical current, isolation of a number of chemical compounds, and proof that magnetic forces bend polarized light.

Childless himself, Faraday loved teaching children, and inaugurated a series of lectures for children at the Royal Institute in 1825. The lecturer performed experiments live on stage, and the first six rows of the Institute's Lecture Hall, usually occupied by prestigious Fellows of the Royal Society, could on these occasions only hold seat visitors under 14 years of age. Between 1825 and his death in 1861, Faraday delivered nineteen of the lecture series himself, introducing the latest concepts of chemistry, electricity, the properties of metals, and forces of nature to his "juvenile auditory". In the process, he revolutionized how science was taught to children. The Royal Insitute has sponsored the lectures continuously since 1825, the only exception being the years from 1939-1942, when London was under attack. Recent lectures have been given by such notable scientists as David Attenborough and Carl Sagan. Faraday's methods also inspired such television presentations as Mr. Wizard and Bill Nye, the Science Guy.

Our eight week course uses the six lectures Faraday delivered on the chemistry of a burning candle in 1860. We are lucky to have the exact text of the lectures, since an enterprising newpaper reporter took them down verbatim in shorthand. We will use these lectures as a starting point — as Faraday did — to discuss to scientific thinking and experimentation, chemical composition of wax, combustion reactions, forces and energy, and the history of the human scientific endeavor. Students will perform adaptations of Faraday's experiments to develop proper experimental techniques (with an emphasis on lab safety) then submit their lab reports for teacher and peer review, and discuss their experiences in online class sessions.

Because Scholars Online personnel cannot oversee the experiments, parents must sign an agreement to provide adequate supervision during performance of experiments.

Meetings:

This course meets Tuesday mornings for 90 minutes from June 15, 2010 - August 10, 2010. There is no class meeting on July 20.

Prerequisites:

Curiosity, and adequate time to perform and write reports on at least four experiments during the summer.

Required Texts:

The Chemical History of the Candle, Michael Faraday.

Enrollment: Enroll in this course at Scholars Online.

© 2011 This course is offered through Scholars Online, a non-profit organization supporting classical Christian education through Internet-based courses. Permission to copy course content (lessons and labs) for personal study is granted to students currently or formerly enrolled in the course through Scholars Online. Reproduction for any other purpose, without the express written consent of the author, is prohibited.