Candle: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 15:09, 16 November 2006

Revision as of 15:09, 16 November 2006

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[[Image:candles.jpg|thumb|right|300px|A collection of lit '''candles''' on ornate [[candlestick]]s]]

[[Image:Candleburning.jpg|thumb|150px|A close-up image of a candle showing the wick and the various regions of the flame. Note the truncated wick being consumed at the lower-right edge of the flame.]]

A '''candle''' is a [[light]] source usually consisting of an internal [[candle wick|wick]] which rises through the center of a column of solid [[fuel]]. Prior to the mid 19th century, the majority of candles were [[tallow]] (a byproduct of beef fat rendering). The fuel now is nearly always some form of [[wax]], with [[paraffin]] wax being the most common. Soy and vegetable-based candles are also available.

Prior to the candle being ignited, the wick is saturated with the fuel in its solid form. The heat of the [[match]] or other flame being used to light the candle first melts and then vaporizes a small amount of the fuel. Once vaporized, the fuel combines with [[oxygen]] in the atmosphere to form a [[Fire|flame]]. This flame then provides sufficient heat to keep the candle burning via a self-sustaining chain of events: the heat of the flame melts the top of the mass of solid fuel, the liquified fuel then moves upward through the wick via [[capillary action]], and the liquified fuel is then vaporized to burn within the candle's flame.

The burning of the fuel takes place in several distinct regions (as evidenced by the various colors that can be seen within the candle's flame). Within the bluer, hotter regions, [[hydrogen]] is being separated from the fuel and burned to form [[water vapor]]. The brighter, yellower part of the flame is the remaining [[carbon]] [[soot]] being oxidized to form [[carbon dioxide]].

As the mass of the solid fuel is melted and consumed, the candle grows shorter. Portions of the wick that are not evaporating the liquid fuel are, ideally, consumed in the flame, limiting the exposed length of the wick and keeping the temperature and rate of fuel consumption even. Some wicks required manual trimming with [[scissors]] or a wick trimmer for even burning, but these are rarely found in modern candles.

==External links==

{{Commons|Candle}}

*[http://www.vermonthoneylights.com/beeswaxfacts_page/beeswaxfacts.html Beeswax Facts]

*[http://candleandsoap.about.com Candle and Soap Making at About.com]

*[http://ask.yahoo.com/ask/20030207.html Are soy candles cleaner burning?]

*[http://www.candles.org/ National Candle Association] of the [[United States|U.S.]]

*[http://www.howtodothings.com/hobbies/a3714-how-to-make-bee-wax-candles.html How to Make a Bee Wax Candle]

*[http://www.candlepixie.com/making-hand-dipped-candles.php How To Make Hand Dipped Candles]

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