Maddie James
Trick candles, also known as magic candles, are a fun novelty item often used at birthday parties. These candles have a special property that makes them relight after being blown out. This effect is achieved by adding magnesium powder to the candle's wick. When the flame is extinguished, the hot embers ignite the magnesium, which then relights the wick by igniting the vaporized paraffin hydrocarbons. This article will explore the science behind these candles and how they work, as well as some of the potential dangers associated with their use.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What are trick candles? | A novelty candle capable of relighting itself. |
| How do they work? | 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 reignite itself. |
| How to extinguish them? | Trick candles need to be snuffed or dunked in a liquid to cut off the oxygen supply so the flame can't reignite. |
| Why are they dangerous? | They present a fire risk as consumers may throw them into the trash believing them to have been extinguished, only for the candles to relight. |
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What You'll Learn
Magnesium powder in the wick
The magic behind trick candles lies in a special ingredient called magnesium. Magnesium powder is incorporated into the candle's wick. Magnesium is a highly reactive metal when powdered or sliced thinly. It ignites at temperatures as low as 800 °F (430 °C). When a candle burns, it doesn't just burn the wick; it also burns the wax. The heat from the flame turns the wax into a vapour, which is what actually burns and keeps the flame going.
When the flame is blown out, the hot embers from the wick ignite the magnesium powder, producing tiny sparks. This, in turn, ignites the vaporised paraffin hydrocarbons, which relight the wick. The magnesium found lower down in the wick doesn't burn because it is protected by the paraffin. Magnesium powder is used in trick candles because it is flammable at a lower temperature than other pyrophoric metals such as aluminium or iron.
The key to a relighting candle is to add something to the wick that the ember is hot enough to ignite. That way, the ember can ignite this substance, and the substance can then ignite the paraffin vapour. The most common substance mentioned is magnesium. Inside the burning wick, the magnesium is shielded from oxygen and cooled by liquid paraffin, but once the flame goes out, magnesium continues to glow.
The key is the distribution of the magnesium powder. It is mixed in small amounts with the candle wax and sprinkled along the wick, ensuring that there's just enough to keep the candle relighting multiple times but not so much that it burns out too quickly. When you blow out a trick candle, the wick may stop burning, but the magnesium powder continues to glow.
Magnesium dust is embedded in the wick, so when you blow out the candle, the remaining ember is enough to ignite some magnesium particles and relight the candle. To put out the candle for real, you have to use water.
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Ignition of paraffin vapour
When a regular candle is blown out, there is a small ember in the wick that continues to burn. This ember is hot enough to vaporize the paraffin wax, but not to ignite it. This is why the candle goes out.
Trick candles, however, contain an extra ingredient in the wick that ignites at a lower temperature than paraffin wax. This ingredient is usually a highly reactive pyrophoric metal, such as magnesium powder, which ignites at around 800°F (430°C). When the flame is blown out, the ember in the wick ignites the magnesium, which then ignites the vaporized paraffin hydrocarbons, thus relighting the wick.
Magnesium is used because it burns rapidly and at a high enough temperature to ignite the paraffin vapour. Other metals, such as aluminium and iron, can also be used, but they ignite at higher temperatures. The magnesium lower down in the wick does not burn because it is protected by the paraffin.
The ignition of the paraffin vapour is therefore dependent on the presence of an ember hot enough to ignite the added ingredient, which then relights the candle by igniting the paraffin vapour.
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Relighting candles
The science behind these candles involves the strategic placement of magnesium powder or dust within the wick. When the flame of a relighting candle is blown out, hot embers from the wick ignite the magnesium, producing tiny sparks. These sparks then set alight the vaporized paraffin hydrocarbons, resulting in the candle's relighting. The magnesium positioned lower in the wick remains unburned due to the protection provided by the paraffin.
The novelty of relighting candles captivates many, but it's important to exercise caution. Some customers have expressed concerns about the fast-burning rate, sparks, and smoke content, deeming them a fire hazard. To address this issue, it is recommended to immerse the candles in water before disposal to ensure they are completely extinguished.
While relighting candles can add an element of fun to celebrations, it's crucial to prioritize safety. The National Candle Association, for instance, has highlighted the potential fire risks associated with these candles. Therefore, it is essential to follow safety guidelines and handle these candles with care to ensure a enjoyable yet safe experience.
In summary, relighting candles operate through the strategic use of magnesium in the wick, allowing them to relight after being blown out. While they offer entertainment, particularly at birthday parties, it's important to be cautious and follow safety precautions to mitigate potential fire hazards.
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Fire risk
Trick candles, also known as magic candles, are a fire risk due to their ability to relight themselves after being blown out. This is achieved through the addition of magnesium powder to the wick, which ignites at temperatures as low as 800 °F (430 °C). When the flame is extinguished, hot embers from the wick ignite the magnesium, producing sparks that relight the wick by igniting the vaporized paraffin hydrocarbons.
The fire risk associated with trick candles lies in the potential for consumers to mistakenly believe the candle has been extinguished, only for it to relight unexpectedly. This could occur if the candle is placed in the trash, posing a risk of starting a fire. To mitigate this risk, it is recommended to immerse trick candles in water for a period of time before discarding them, depriving the flame of oxygen and ensuring complete extinguishment.
The ease of manufacturing and accessibility of instructions for creating trick candles further exacerbates the fire risk. With readily available video tutorials on YouTube and other platforms, individuals may attempt to make their own trick candles without fully understanding the associated dangers. This could lead to improper handling and disposal, increasing the likelihood of accidental fires.
The potential fire hazard posed by trick candles has led to their ban in Canada since 1977. Despite this ban, trick candles remain legal in other countries, including the United States. While a spokesperson for the National Candle Association has expressed concern over the fire hazard posed by these candles, the challenge of banning them in the US has resulted in an emphasis on educating consumers about the potential risks.
It is important for consumers to be aware of the unique characteristics of trick candles and to take the necessary precautions to ensure complete extinguishment before disposal. This includes methods such as running the candles under water or immersing them in a liquid to deprive the flame of oxygen, preventing accidental reignition. By following these safety measures, individuals can reduce the fire risk associated with trick candles and ensure a safer experience.
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Preventing reignition
To prevent reignition of trick candles, it is important to understand how they work. Trick candles, also known as magic candles, are novelty candles that can relight themselves. They work by igniting magnesium inserted into the wick of the candle. When the candle is blown out, the hot embers from the wick ignite the magnesium powder, producing tiny sparks. This, in turn, ignites the vaporized paraffin hydrocarbons, which relight the wick.
To prevent reignition, one must prevent the ignition of the magnesium powder by the hot embers of the wick. This can be achieved by removing the heat source from the wick. One way to do this is by using a candle snuffer to smother the flame, depriving it of oxygen and preventing the ignition of the magnesium powder. Another way is to dunk the candle in a liquid, such as water, to extinguish the flame and prevent reignition.
It is important to note that even after the visible flame has been extinguished, the wick of a trick candle may still be hot enough to reignite the magnesium powder. Therefore, it is recommended to immerse the candle in water for a while before discarding it to ensure complete extinguishment and prevent accidental fires.
In summary, to prevent the reignition of trick candles, one should use a candle snuffer or dunk the candle in water to extinguish the flame. Additionally, it is advisable to immerse the candle in water for a period of time before disposal to ensure the candle cannot relight itself.
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Frequently asked questions
Trick candles have a material added to the wick, usually magnesium, that can be ignited by the relatively low temperature of the hot wick ember. When the candle is blown out, the wick ember ignites the magnesium, which burns hot enough to ignite the paraffin vapour of the candle, causing the candle to relight itself.
Trick candles need to be snuffed out or dunked in a liquid to cut off the oxygen supply so the flame can't relight.
Trick candles look pretty much like ordinary candles.
Trick candles were banned in Canada in 1977 due to the fire risk they pose. A spokesperson for the National Candle Association recommends immersing the candles in water before discarding them.
