for a candle
2007-10-18 08:44:54 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
For the flame to burn the wax has be in the gas phase.
2007-10-18 08:51:04 · answer #1 · answered by Dr Dave P 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It must be a gas, for any fuel to ignite you must have a vapour. For example it is not liquid petrol that catches fire it is the vapour that forms above it that ignites.
With a candle, the heat of the wick melts the wax turning it to liquid, then turning it to a vapour, once sufficient amount of vapour is produced then the wax vapour will ignite.
2007-10-18 15:52:00 · answer #2 · answered by lil miss sunshine 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It starts as solid wax. The heat of the flame melts it to a liquid. The wick draws the liquid up into the flame by capillary action. The heat of the flame pyrolyzes liquid to vapor/gas, which burns in the flame.
2007-10-18 15:49:45 · answer #3 · answered by steve_geo1 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
vapor phase. the solid wax melts into a liquid and in any liquid molecules come out of the liquid into the vapor phase.
2007-10-18 15:53:41 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Gaseous. Wax melts first, then vaporizes. It is the vapor that burns.
2007-10-18 15:49:22 · answer #5 · answered by papastolte 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Solid.
2007-10-18 15:48:22 · answer #6 · answered by haile d 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋