• Question: If u light a candle and then blow it out then ignite the smoke, why does the candle relight?

    Asked by metemercan2011 to Andrew, Daniel, Hayley, Natalia, Peta on 22 Nov 2011.
    • Photo: Daniel Scully

      Daniel Scully answered on 21 Nov 2011:

      When you’re burning a candle, the heat from the wick vaporises some of the wax, which can then ignite and burn with the oxygen in the air – which is the flame.

      So the match isn’t lighting the smoke, but relighting the vaporised wax still left over in the air.

      (…I think)

    • Photo: Peta Foster

      Peta Foster answered on 22 Nov 2011:

      Yes i agree with daniel here. It is the wax vapour that is burning. The smoke is generated from the inefficiencies in the burning process… basically not everything completely burns and so you end up with smoke.

      This can be a problem for real wood fires as my aunt routinely finds out when the incomplete combustion results in soot building up in her chimney which can then catch fire itself… eeek.

      Great question 😀

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