Jessie Taylor
Candles are a common household item, often used to create a cosy atmosphere or during celebrations. But did you know that candles can be relit without touching the flame to the wick? This phenomenon is known as the magic travelling flame or the candle re-ignition trick. It involves lighting the smoke trail, or vapourised wax, above the wick with a second flame, which then travels down to the wick and relights the candle. Trick birthday candles use a similar concept by inserting magnesium into the wick, which ignites the paraffin vapour and causes the candle to relight itself. This article will explore the science behind candle relighting and the different methods that can be used to achieve this intriguing effect.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of candle | Trick or magic candle |
| How it works | By igniting magnesium inserted into the wick of the candle, the paraffin vapour given off when a candle is blown out can be set alight, allowing the candle to relight itself |
| Other methods | Relighting the smoke trail, which is caused by vaporized wax |
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What You'll Learn
Trick/magic candles
Trick or magic candles are a type of novelty candle that can relight themselves after being blown out. These candles work by inserting magnesium into the wick. When a candle is blown out, it produces a ribbon of paraffin smoke. The heat from the flame vaporises the candle wax, creating a combustible fuel/air mixture. The magnesium in the wick is hot enough to ignite the paraffin vapour, causing the candle to relight.
These candles can be a fun addition to birthday parties, creating laughter and surprise among guests. However, it is important to exercise caution when using them due to their potential fire hazards. Some customers have reported challenges in completely blowing out the candles, leading to concerns about fire safety.
To ensure the trick candles relight effectively, it is recommended to follow the instructions provided. In some cases, the candles need to be lit for a specific duration, such as one minute, to enable their relighting ability. While these candles can be entertaining, they should be handled with care, and it is advised to immerse them in water before disposal to prevent accidental relighting in the trash.
The relighting mechanism of trick candles is based on the science of how candles work. When a candle is blown out, there is typically a burning ember in the wick that generates a trail of smoke or vapourised wax. By adding magnesium to the wick, the ember can ignite this substance, which then triggers the ignition of the paraffin vapour, resulting in the candle relighting itself.
Additionally, there is a science trick that allows you to relight a candle from a distance. After blowing out a candle, you can use another flame source, such as a match or a lighter, to ignite the smoke trail immediately above the wick. This technique relies on the concentration of vapourised wax near the wick, allowing the flame to travel down the smoke trail and relight the candle.
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Relighting with a smoke trail
Relighting a candle using its smoke trail is a simple trick that can be performed by anyone. It is a scientific amusement that can be performed as an experiment for children and adults.
To start, light a candle and have a second source of flame ready, such as another candle, a lighter, or a match. Blow out the candle and immediately place the other flame into the smoke trail. The flame will then travel down the smoke trail and relight the candle. If you have trouble lighting the smoke, move the flame closer to the wick, as that is where the concentration of vaporized wax is highest.
The key to understanding this trick lies in the chemical process that occurs when a candle is lit. When a candle is burning, the heat from the flame vaporizes the candle wax, and its hydrocarbons break down into hydrogen and carbon. This vaporized wax then burns in oxygen to produce water vapour, carbon dioxide, heat, and light.
Even after a candle is blown out, there is still a burning ember in the wick that causes a ribbon of paraffin smoke to rise. This ember is hot enough to vaporize paraffin but not hot enough to ignite it. By introducing a second source of flame to the smoke trail, the flame can travel back down to the wick and relight the candle.
This trick works best when the air in the room is still and quiet, as this maximizes the amount of wax vapour around the wick and provides a clear smoke trail for the flame to follow.
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Using another flame
Relighting a candle using another flame is a simple trick that can be performed by anyone. It involves lighting a candle and then blowing it out before immediately placing another flame into the smoke that rises from the wick. This causes the flame to travel down the smoke and relight the candle.
To perform this trick, you will need a candle and a second source of flame, such as another candle, a lighter, or a match. It is important to ensure that the air in the room is still, as this will maximise the amount of wax vapour around the wick and provide a clear smoke trail for the flame to follow.
Once you have blown out the candle, wait a few seconds for the smoke trail to rise from the wick. Then, hold the second flame near the smoke trail and place it into the smoke. You can be close to the wick, but it is important to ensure that the flame does not touch the wick. The flame will then travel along the trail to the wick, and the candle will relight.
This trick works because when a candle is lit, the heat from the flame vaporises the candle wax. The wax vapour then rises from the wick in the form of smoke. The smoke contains unburned wax vapour, which can be ignited by the second flame. This causes the flame to travel down the smoke trail and relight the candle.
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Candle composition
Candle wax is typically made from hydrocarbons, which can be derived from animal, vegetable, or petroleum sources. The most common type of candle wax today is paraffin wax, which is a petroleum-based product. Other types of waxes used in candle-making include beeswax, soy wax, palm wax, gels, and synthesized waxes, as well as blends of different waxes.
The use of different types of waxes in candle-making has evolved over time and has been influenced by the availability and processability of raw materials. For example, ancient civilizations like the Ancient Egyptians and Early Romans used tallow, rendered from animals, to make candles. In China during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.), beeswax was used for candles, while in early Japan, extracts from tree nuts were used. The whaling industry in the 18th century led to the development of spermaceti wax, derived from the head oil of sperm whales, which burned cleanly and had a low odour.
The wick of a candle is typically made from cotton or wooden materials. When a candle is lit, the heat from the flame melts the solid wax, which then vaporizes and rises up through the wick via capillary action. The wick's fibres draw the liquid wax up, and the heat from the flame vaporizes it to form a ribbon of paraffin smoke. This smoke combines with oxygen in the air and ignites, forming the candle's flame.
The composition of candle smoke has been studied, and it is found to contain a combination of unaltered fuel that has evaporated and condensed, as well as partially oxidised fuel. The specific chemical composition of the particles in candle smoke, particularly the ultrafine particles, is still not fully understood and requires further research.
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Scientific experiments
The relighting of candles is a simple yet fascinating scientific experiment that can be performed by both children and adults. This experiment demonstrates the chemistry behind the lighting and extinguishing of a flame. Here is a step-by-step guide to conducting this experiment:
Materials:
- Candles
- Long matches or a long-neck lighter
Procedure:
- Light a candle and let it burn for a few seconds.
- Extinguish the candle by blowing it out gently. Ensure that you blow it out with a short puff of air to avoid dispersing the smoke too widely.
- Observe the smoke rising from the wick. This smoke contains vaporized wax, which is the result of the heat from the flame melting and vaporizing the wax.
- Wait a few seconds for the smoke trail to rise. The smoke trail will be straighter if the air in the room is still.
- Hold a lighter or the second flame near the smoke trail, without touching the wick. The flame should be close to the wick, but not touching it.
- Watch as the flame travels along the smoke trail to the wick, causing the candle to relight.
- You can experiment with different variables, such as the type of candle (scented vs. unscented), the size of the candle, or the material of the wick, to observe any differences in how the candle relights.
Scientific Explanation:
When a candle is blown out, the wick remains hot, and wax continues to be drawn up and vaporized. This vaporized wax, or wax gas, above the candle can be ignited by an external flame. The flame then travels through the trail of wax vapor to the wick, causing the candle to relight. This experiment showcases the chemistry of candles and the combustion process.
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Frequently asked questions
Trick candles, also known as magic candles, relight themselves by igniting magnesium inserted into the wick. The paraffin vapour given off when the candle is blown out is set alight, allowing the candle to reignite.
To relight a candle from a distance, blow out the candle and immediately place another flame into the smoke that rises from the wick. The flame will travel down the smoke and relight the candle.
When the air is still, there is a higher concentration of wax vapour around the wick, which makes it easier to relight the candle.
The "smoke" from a candle is a complex mixture of substances, including soot, unburned wax vapour, and water vapour.
Yes, it is possible to relight a candle without touching it by using the method of relighting the candle from a distance, as described above.
