Non-burning paper: investigate the fire triangle and conditions for combustion

A hand using scissor-handle tweezers to hold a piece of paper that is on fire but not burning

Source: © Declan Fleming

Use this reworking of the classic non-burning £5 note demonstration to explore combustion with learners aged 11–16 years

Ignite your learners’ curiosity with this reimagining of the classic burning banknote experiment. Use this demonstration when teaching the fire triangle and combustion to learners aged 11–16. You could also use it when teaching enthalpy of combustion and combustion of organic substances at post-16. In the demonstration, evaporating water holds the paper’s temperature below its ignition point, providing a memorable talking point.

This demonstration also works well at a public or outreach event, ideas on how to introduce a theme are included in the video.

Watch the supporting video and download the technician notes, including the full preparation and method.

Thanks for using Education in Chemistry. You can view one Education in Chemistry article per month as a visitor. 

A photograph of a teacher standing in a white lab coat, speaking with a class of children in a laboratory, is superimposed on a colourful background. Text reads "Teach Chemistry means support for classroom and staff room".

Register for Teach Chemistry for free, unlimited access

Registration is open to all teachers and technicians at secondary schools, colleges and teacher training institutions in the UK and Ireland.

Get all this, plus much more:

  • unlimited access to resources, core practical videos and Education in Chemistry articles
  • teacher well-being toolkit, personal development resources and online assessments
  • applications for funding to support your lessons

Already a Teach Chemistry member? Sign in now.

Not eligible for Teach Chemistry? Sign up for a personal account instead, or you can also access all our resources with Royal Society of Chemistry membership.