Materials needed for Demonstration of the Effect of Surface Area on the Rate of Combustion

1 - Large Coffee Can which serves as a reaction container
1 - Small container which serves as the fuel container
1 - Candle which serves as the ignition source
1 - tube to provide a method of dispersing the fuel
1 - lid to contain the combustion products inside the reaction container
Cornstarch which serves as the fuel

The reaction container is constructed so that a small hole in the wall of the container allows a connection to be made between the tube outside of the reaction vessel and the small fuel container inside the reaction vessel. The fuel is placed inside the small container and when air is passed through the tube the fuel is dispersed as a fine powder inside the reaction vessel.
To carry out the demonstration, the lighted candle is placed inside the reaction vessel next to the fuel container. The reaction vessel is sealed and the fuel is dispersed by a short blast of air through the tube.

For a complete recipe and instructions see "Chemical Demonstrations, a Handbook for Teachers of Chemistry vol. 1" Shakhashiri, 1983 University of Wisconson Press, page 103