Oxygen shortage produces snake

If the burning of sugar is not fed sufficient oxygen, huge quantities of soot are produced. The chemical process can be used to make a slow-growing column.

When sugar burns, large quantities of soot are produced, if there is not enough oxygen. This is called incomplete combustion. Lack of oxygen is used to produce so much soot that a growing snake-like figure appears. Soot consists of nearly pure carbon.

The considerable lack of oxygen in the experiment is due to the fact that the powder is placed in a hole in the sand, which it is difficult for oxygen to reach.

The carbon atoms that make up the snake originate from the sugar molecules of the powder mixture, which are broken down into carbon and water vapour, as they burn. The snake grows because of the soda that is added. When soda burns, carbon dioxide is produced, and when the gas molecules mix with the soot from the burning of the sugar, small cavities are produced to keep the black snake growing.

If plenty of oxygen had been present, as the sugar burned, the result would have been very different. It would have been complete combustion, producing no soot. Instead, the carbon atoms would have turned into carbon dioxide, and there would be no remains of the powder in the deep container – only water vapour and carbon dioxide.