Chemistry, Color, and Fire, or Back to the Foundations of Chemistry

What is fire? What components are necessary for something to burn? Can things burn without oxygen? In water? Since ancient times, people have grappled with the nature of fire, perceiving it, along with water, earth, and air, as one of the four fundamental elements that comprise the universe. Believe it or not, the attempts to understand the nature of fire laid the foundations of modern chemistry. Accordingly, this semilab is the best chance for a beginner to get acquainted with the foundations of chemistry. This semilab will help us discover the chemistry behind the fiery phenomenon. You will replicate the experiments used by 19th-century scientists to understand fire. We will study the composition of air and the role its components play in supporting combustion. We will observe the emission spectra of different materials, which will lead us to an understanding of how chemical properties relate to color. We will rediscover new chemical elements, and play forensics by detecting minuscule traces of certain substances. And yes, we will burn things in water, and prepare something interesting to show to other campers!