How Much Ash this Leaf Produces

When I burned a dry leaf and weighed it before and after combustion, I embarked on a simple yet insightful experiment that underscored fundamental principles of chemistry and physics. The experiment, conducted with precision and curiosity, revealed intriguing insights into the nature of matter and the conservation of mass.

Before the combustion, the dry leaf, seemingly inconsequential, held within it a complex web of organic compounds, including cellulose, lignin, and various other substances essential for the leaf's structure and function. This organic matter, composed primarily of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, was held together by chemical bonds that defined the leaf's physical properties.

Upon burning the leaf, a transformative process unfolded. The heat applied to the leaf initiated a chemical reaction known as combustion, where the organic compounds in the leaf reacted with oxygen in the air to produce carbon dioxide, water vapor, and ash. This reaction, exothermic in nature, released energy in the form of heat and light, characteristic of combustion reactions.