Catalysts - Combustion of Sugar?

Question

Hey, I have to do this science fair project. I couldn't come up with anything to do, but I found something on catalysts: http://www.sciencefair-projects.org/chemistry-projects/incinerate-sugar-cube.html

So it says normally sugar isn't combustible, a known fact, but if you rub ashes on it is will ignite. What catalysts do is speed up reaction rate by lowering the needed activation energy. So I was going to measure the amount of time it took for different sugars to ignite.

When I tried to ignite the sugar with some ashes of burnt matches nothing happened. Do you know why? Do you have any ideas?

I think this is a really lame project but I couldn't come up with anything else. I'm not even supposed to be in the science fair, but I have to because I'm in a certain class. So if you have any other ideas for catalyst experiments (I already said I would do one) that would also be helpful. Or at least a good experiment...

Thank you so much

Answer 1

I don't think the ash is true chemical catalysis. You need to have more fun. These have a bit more WOW factor.

If you have lab facilities to handle this, a couple spoonfuls of sugar plus a few drops of concentrated sulfuric acid makes for a foaming black mess. Don't use the large quantities that were in this clown's website!

You can do the popular Mentos and Coke demo. Messy, but not toxic.

You can compare the ignitability of new vs. rusted steel wool. Best done in the shade or at night.