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You are here: Home / Science / Why Won’t a Candle Burn Without a Wick?

Why Won’t a Candle Burn Without a Wick?

February 23, 2020 by Karen Hill

By capillary attraction, the wick leads melted wax up to where it can be vaporized and mix with oxygen in the air.

A block of solid wax, or even a puddle of melted wax, won’t burn because the wax molecules can’t come in contact with enough oxygen molecules; only as vapors can they mix intimately, molecule for molecule, and react.

Combustion (burning) is a reaction that releases heat energy.

Once it begins, it gives off more than enough heat to keep melting and vaporizing more wax to keep the process going.

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Filed Under: Science

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

Previous Post: « When a Candle Burns, Where Does the Wax Go?
Next Post: Why are Gas Grill Flames Blue and Candle Flames Yellow, and Where do the Colors Come From? »

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