When a candle burns,and gets smaller,where does the wax go?

Question

I thought it maybe was evaporation.

Answer 1

The wax is composed of petroleum Paraffin Wax and, when the wick is ignited and burning, the heat first melts the wax and then vaporises it (only the vapour of substances will burn).
Burning is Combustion and combustion is a chemical reaction during which, in this case, the wax vapour burns and the wax is converted to CO2, H2O, C (carbon soot as black smoke). Some CO may also be produced), all together with heat and light.

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
When a candle burns,and gets smaller,where does the wax go?

Answer 3

And as you know now, that wax is in fact a hydrocarbon compound commonly known as paraffin, and that burning is a chemical process that involves consumption of oxygen in the air and production of water vapours and carbon mono oxide and heat.

But this is what you also need to know about the burning of the wax of a candle. The wax that disappears while a candle burns is transformed into pure light and what cannot transform into light melts and turn into liquid that flows while it is lit, for all candles want to burn brighter than the can ever manage to do. The pain, therefore, that a candle feels for it being so dim and not so bright is then shed in from of its tears of anguish that hang round its body like decorative beads.

The light of the candle is the light for the eyes and yet all eyes need not be made of wax.

The sphere of the light of a candle bright never gets smaller; it always grows endlessly all around.

Answer 4

There are 2 processes or changes occuring at the same time when a candle burns.

The physical change is melting (which is why the wax flows and collects along the candle as it solidifies).

The other is a chemical change. The wax of the candle is made of carbon and hydrogen (also known as hydrocarbon). The carbon and hydrogen react with the oxygen in the air and the following occurs:
C + O2 = CO2 (carbon dioxide)
2C + O2 = 2CO (if your room doesn't have sufficient O2)
2H2 + O2 = 2H2O (water)

The gases formed then disappears into the air and the size of the candle decreases.

Answer 5

the wax is actually a fuel itself. it is basically like an oil lamp! the flame light she wick, the wax starts to melt, and is sucked up the wick by means of capipiary action. If you just let a wick, it would burn very quickly, and completely in a matter of seconds, however, in the candle, the molten wax, burns instead of the wick. The wick keeps the flame going, and the wax feeds the flame. Like all combustions, one of the products is carbon dioxide this is only the result of the candle wax burning, and candles are an incomplete combustion. THe flame are orange, because of tiny particles of unburnt carbon (soot) being heated up and glowing. this is how soot is produced. (carbon/ soot is flammable... thats why there were chimney sweeps, to stop chimney fires, which were apparently quite serious and destructive!)

Answer 6

When a fuel burns what happens is that it joins with oxygen from the air to produce carbon dioxide and water.I will give you the simplest fuel..methane.(candlewax is similar but with more carbon and hydrogen atoms.)

CH4 + 2O2 >>>>>CO2 + 2H2O
methane + oxygen>>>>carbon dioxide + water.

Unfortunately, as candlewax contains many more carbon atoms than methane, the fuel is not completely burnt like this as there is not enough oxygen so carbon monoxide (CO) and unburnt carbon are given off too .The carbon is the soot in the flame.

The carbon dioxide and the water vapour are invisible but the water can be re-condensed is you hold a cold surface just above the flame.Water droplets will form for a few moments until the surface is heated up by the flame, and the unburnt carbon will form a black soot.

Answer 7

Burning the candle combies the wax with oxygen from the air. Carbon dioxide, water are formed.
To prove there is water, hold a glass of cold water over the flame for a second or two. Look carefully and you will see water condensation on the outside of the glass.
Soot (carbon) is formed when the wax is not completely combusted.

Answer 8

The candles made of paraffin release CO2.So little or maybe more of the candle evaporates,and the rest accululates at the bottom ofthe candle which later hardens

Answer 9

Some of it melts and runs down the candle and some of it evaporates or even burns away.

Answer 10

When you light the candle the wax melts and then turns to a gas. This candle vapour is what fuels the flame and keeps the candle burning.