When a candle burns, most of its wax doesn't disappear; it evaporates into the air.
The Journey of Burning Candle Wax
You might think the melting wax just vanishes, but there's a physical process happening. According to The New York Times, a significant portion of the candle's material transforms and enters the atmosphere.
Here's a simple breakdown of what happens based on the provided information:
- Melting: The heat from the flame melts the solid candle wax, creating a liquid pool around the wick.
- Capillary Action: The melted wax is then drawn upwards by the cotton wick, similar to how water travels up a plant stem.
- Evaporation and Combustion: As the wax reaches the flame, it gets hot enough to turn into a gas (evaporate). This gaseous wax then burns.
- Transformation: The process of burning converts the wax into invisible substances. As the New York Times states, the wax eventually evaporates into the air as either carbon dioxide or water vapor after it burns.
Essentially, the wax undergoes a chemical reaction (combustion) that turns its solid form into gases that disperse into the surrounding air. Very little of the wax is typically left behind as residue when burned correctly.
