Can someone explain the chemical property of a burning candle?

Question

Can someone explain the chemical property of a burning candle? What reacts with what?

Thanks.

Oh and can you also try to make your answer easy to understand? and perhaps not use abbreviations too much, or use ( and ).

I would appreciate that lots.

Thanks!!

Answer 1

Well fire, essentailly is the rapid reduction of oxygen molecules in the air (which is why it goes out with no oxygen). It releases CO2, H2O and Carbon, which is why there is a black film from its deposition

Answer 2

A candle is a hydrocarbon with the general formula of CxHy, meaning a combination of carbon and hydrogen atoms.

A candle probably has a formula of at least 25+ carbons and 50+ hydrogens.

In any case, when a hydrocarbon completely burns (reacts with oxygen), the products are CO2 and H2O

Answer 3

Candle wax is paraffin wax with a certain melting point. Check your text book for the formula and melting pt.
When the wick is lit, the paraffin melts and moves up the wick where it vaporises (boiling pt) . The vapor burns which is an oxidation process which produces carbon dioxide and water and soot which is carbon.
If you look at the flame of a candle you will see that the wick is not actually burning as there is an area of unburnt vapor around it.
Hope this helped.