Candle Smoke

Why does a candle release smoke only when it is blown out?

Wax vapors condense to form a mist The wick burns as charcoal Incomplete combustion causes CO to be formed

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1 solution

Tom Engelsman
Feb 14, 2021

The actual fire in a candle is from the vapors that surround the wick. When you blow the candle out, there are uncombusted hydrocarbon vapors still remaining. They cool down and turn into smoke. The wick is still warm, but not hot enough to burn cleanly. Thus, the oils in the wick burn incompletely, which creates smoke.

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