Question

After the power cut Priya lighted a candle and stated thinking why there is a flame in candles. What do you think so?

• A. Wax liquefies during burning and forms flame.
• B. Wax vaporizes during burning and produces flame.
• C. Flame is produced because wax gas low ignition temperature.
• D. Wax is a combustible substance and every combustible substance produces flame.

Answer 1

The correct option is B

Wax vaporizes during burning and produces flame.

When you light a candle, the heat of the flame melts the wax near the wick. This liquid wax is then drawn up the wick by capillary action. The heat of the flame vaporizes the liquid wax (turns it into a hot gas), and starts to break down the hydrocarbons into molecules of hydrogen and carbon. These vaporized molecules are drawn up into the flame, where they react with oxygen from the air to create heat, light, water vapour $\left(H_{2}O\right)$ and carbon dioxide $\left(C{O}_2\right)$.