What prevents the candle wick in the center of the flame from burning?

Answer 1

There is no oxygen in center where the wick runs down, only the part above the level of the candle will burn.

Answer 2

The heat from the flame heats the wax in the wick to a gas which then burns. As the wax is converted to a gas which leaves the wick the melted wax around the wick is drawn into the wick.

Most substances will not burn without first being modified so that they can mix with oxygen. The exceptions are compounds that contain oxygen. For example gasoline will not burn, the fumes from gasoline will, this is why an "empty" gasoline tank is much more dangerous than a full one. Grains do not burn very well however grain dust that fills the air is very explosive.

Do a search on "blevies" and "Silo explosions"

Answer 3

Until recently the center of the wick was made of lead. That was found to release toxins into the air as the candle burned. Now, if you look on candles, most will state that the wick is lead free.

Answer 4

when the wax of the candle is in liquid form and since the wick has lot of ''pores'' the wax sets in tightening the wick. then since the lack of oxygen which fire needs to simply exist, the wick doesn't burn... By the way, when blowing out a candle, if you want to keep it, take some of the liquid wax and cover your wick. It will prevent it from drying out and breaking short...

Answer 5

The wax. Take the wax away and you'll have a burnt wick.

Look at it this way. A flame has to be fueled. In a wax candle, the wax is the fuel, and the wick is just there to feed wax to the flame. Without the wax, the wick becomes the fuel, which is why it burns up.

Answer 6

The wick is not the fuel that is burning it is the gas being formed fromthe wax that is being melted.

Answer 7

Nothing. The wick burns, although very slowly.

JMB