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Understanding Candle Flame Chemistry

The document explains the process of how a candle burns, detailing the melting wax's movement via capillary action and its transformation into gas that burns in oxygen. It highlights the production of soot, the yellow flame, and the presence of unburned wax vapor, which can reignite and continue the burning process. Additionally, it notes the high temperature of the blue flame surrounding the yellow flame.

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Mia Dimitrova
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4 views1 page

Understanding Candle Flame Chemistry

The document explains the process of how a candle burns, detailing the melting wax's movement via capillary action and its transformation into gas that burns in oxygen. It highlights the production of soot, the yellow flame, and the presence of unburned wax vapor, which can reignite and continue the burning process. Additionally, it notes the high temperature of the blue flame surrounding the yellow flame.

Uploaded by

Mia Dimitrova
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Magic Traveling Flame

When we fired a candle Heat melt wax close to the wick and the
melted wax flows up the wick by capillary action of the wick material.
The wax is becoming a hot gas and its hydrocarbons break down into
hydrogen (H) and carbon (C). The now gaseous wax burns in oxygen
(O) to produce water vapor, carbon dioxide, heat, and light. The
“smoke” from a candle is a very complex material. You can see soot
on surfaces near or over candles and at the top of glass coverings
around them. It’s interesting to note that the yellow flame you see
on a candle is comprised mainly of burning soot. What you don’t see
is the blue flame surrounding it in which the temperature can be
around 2,500°F (1400°C ).

Another component of the smoke from a candle is unburned wax


vapor. This is the material that causes candle wax to appear white or
gray. For a few seconds, its temperature is high enough that it will
burn with the touch of a flame. It rises, of course, because it’s hot so
you will probably need to be above the wick to light it. The smoke
trail is very straight when the air is still, and you can touch the flame
to any part of the trail that’s connected to the wick. The wax vapor
reignites and the blue flame travels along it to the wick where the
candle burning process starts all over.

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