What happens when a candle burns?
Answer:
When you light a candle (with a flame) some of the wax on the wick melts then vaporizes and ignites. The flame propagates to the bass of the wick where it melts a small puddle of wax that rises up into the wick by capillary action to replace burned wax. The candle flame would be blue if combustion was complete but some of the carbon from the (hydrocarbon) wax rises as very hot carbon particles that burn orange but can be detected as soot on a piece of cool glass (saucer?). The heat of the candle flame expands the air and combustion products about it making them buoyant which causes them to rise in the relatively cool surrounding air. This brings a constant resupply of cool oxygenated air to the flame to continue combustion. As the wax is consumed, the wick projects too far above the flame to be protected by the rising cool air and it burns away. The combustion products are CO, CO2 and H2O vapor. The flame may be easily extinguished in a deep (bowl) candle vase by exhaling CO2 rich breath into the bowl depriving the flame of oxygen. This will avoid spilling the growing puddle of melted wax. Candle wicks are often held erect by a thin wire that burns away as the candle is used up. All domestic candle makers are required to avoid use of toxic wires such as lead alloys.
the wax melts...
the wick and wax both slowly burn, creating small amounts of smoke and water vapor.
The wick of a candle is a piece of wire covered in a woven fabric. The wax is the fuel, as the candle melts the fabric absorbs the wax and uses it as the fuel to continue burning. The wire is to give the wick rigidity and stability as well as a longer burning life. This is why after you burn a candle for a long time there is a "ball' on the end of the wick, that's the melted wire. I hope this helped. Good luck and God bless!
Candle wax is a Hydrocarbon (a substance made of hydrgen and carbon), so as it burns , the hydrocarbon breaks down to H2O and carbon di oxide.
The wax increases viscosity for a short period, allowing it to "flow". It then falls off from the candle...
Hope it helps...
The answers post by the user, for information only, FunQA.com does not guarantee the right.
More Questions and Answers: