In this article, we will consider the question of whether burning a candle is a physical or chemical phenomenon, justify our point of view and prove its fidelity. However, to begin with, we will pay attention to general information about what constitutes the combustion process. We’ll also talk about why it is difficult to attribute it to specific physical or chemical processes.
Burning - what is it from the point of view of science
Combustion is a complex process with physical and chemical reactions in which the starting materials are converted into combustion products. This is due to an exothermic reaction, which is accompanied by abundant release of thermal energy. From this definition it is already clear why it is clear to understand that burning a candle is a physical or chemical phenomenon, it is quite difficult.
We should also talk about such a term as “flame”. This is a zone formed as a result of combustion reactions from which light and heat emanate. The flame temperature depends on the conditions under which the combustion itself occurs, as well as on the mixtures involved in this process.
What is a burning candle
Now that we know a little theory, we can smoothly move on to the question of whether burning a candle is a physical or chemical phenomenon, and why it is difficult to understand this issue. Based on the above facts, we can confidently say that combustion is a mixture of chemical and physical phenomena. If we cast aside the moment itself when the candle is ignited, then during combustion several points can be indicated.
First of all, a physical process occurs. Heat emanates from a hot flame in all directions, including to the lower part. The radiation incident on the paraffin candle itself (take the simplest version of this product as an example) heats its material.
Further, paraffin is melted, which, under the influence of capillary forces, uniformly goes along the wick directly to its burning part. At this point, paraffin vaporizes.
Vapors of paraffin are picked up by the rising air and mixed with it.
However, this is far from all the information that the burning of a candle is a physical or chemical phenomenon, because the chemical process comes into play later, namely, the oxidation of paraffin begins. In other words, the decomposition of its molecules occurs, if you do not go into details, right down to the atoms themselves. Paraffins are hydrocarbons whose molecules are composed of C and H atoms. They combine with oxygen, resulting in water and carbon dioxide. And as a result of oxidation is the release of energy related to chemical processes.
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We could stop on this and close the question of whether burning a candle is a physical or chemical phenomenon, because we clearly see that both processes are happening here at once. However, let's look at the combustion process to the end. After oxidation, the physical part of the process begins again. The generated energy goes to all the molecules involved in the work, due to which their kinetic strength increases. Sometimes part of this power is released as light or ordinary glow. Then rising streams of hot gases contribute to the formation of a candle flame.
To summarize
It turns out that the debate about the burning of a candle is a physical or chemical phenomenon, observations that have been conducted for a very long time, you can safely close. In the burning of candles there are both chemical and physical processes simultaneously.