Where does the wax go after you burn a candle?

Question

I burn candles all the time. I'm just wondering if anybody knows where the wax goes after it gets consumed by the flame. Does it just evaporate into the air? Are my lungs and walls now coated with wax that I can't see or what??

Answer 1

Do you remember a while back they did a restoration on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel? It turned out the colors were a lot brighter than anyone had realized, due to soot from all the candles. Try this; hold a white saucer or dinner plate about a foot over a candle's flame (careful not to burn yourself or hold it there more than a few seconds). You will quickly see that not all of the wax turns into carbon dioxide and water vapor (the natural byproducts of combustion). This soot is all over your house and in your lungs.

Answer 2

You are right, It evaporates and goes into the air. Breatheing it in doesn't do you any harm because before we had electricity all we had for illumination was candlelight, for centuries. Candles today are big business. We all buy them and use them with gusto(and we're all still breatheing!)

Answer 3

Hidden risk

Although North American candle suppliers and manufacturers have voluntarily stopped using lead-based wicks in candle products, the CPSC estimates that 3% of all candles for sale in the USA still have lead wicks.

Lead core wicks emit the element into the air while burning, increasing the risk of lead poisoning, especially among children. Lead poisoning among children is associated with behavioral problems, learning disabilities, hearing problems, and growth retardation.

Because lead accumulates in the body, even low levels of exposure can over time be dangerous. It is estimated that 1 in every 25 children under the age of six in the USA has unsafe levels of the toxin in his or her blood. The primary source of lead exposure in U.S. children still comes from paint in old homes.

In today's health-conscious marketplace, alternatives for candle burning are finding favor. Jennifer Brown, founder of Jenni Originals candles in Los Angeles, discovered an opportunity born of adversity.

"When I started making candles for my business, I had unexplainable headache and sinus problems," says Brown. "I subsequently learned that I suffered a reaction to the petroleum chemicals commonly used in candle wax."

Since then, Brown has used soybean-based wax and insisted on environmentally friendly wick sources. Her commitment has made fans among Hollywood luminaries including Sharon Stone, Charlize Theron, and Alicia Silverstone, among others.

The CPSC is currently formulating a ban on lead wick candles in the USA, and has enlisted a voluntary ban on lead wicks among American manufacturers.

Not all metal wicks are hazardous, however. The CPSC states that safe alternatives still include wicks using zinc, tin, and synthetic fibers.

What should you do if concerned about the wick content of a candle in your favorite boutique or store? In order to check for lead:

Inspect your candle — a metal-cored wick has a visible 'wire' in the center. You may need your fingers to separate the core from the outer wrapping.
If you do see a metal core:

Contact the manufacturer to determine if it is made with a lead wick.
If you are unable to get an answer, play it safe and don't burn your candle. It can still be used for ornamental purposes.
The CPSC and the Web site Candle-Safety.Org have lists of approved candle manufacturers.

Answer 4

the wax is a form of fuel that is consumed just as if it were gas or any other form of fuel

Answer 5

its kind of like gas um like a fuel