Tyler Brooks
Trick candles, also known as magic candles, are a fun novelty item that can relight themselves after being blown out. While they are sure to bring joy to children's birthday parties, they can also be dangerous. In fact, trick candles have been banned in Canada since 1977 due to the fire risk they pose. So, what causes trick candles to relight? The answer lies in the wick.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common name | Trick candles, Magic candles |
| Function | Relights itself after being blown out |
| Working | By igniting magnesium inserted into the wick of the candle, the paraffin vapor given off when a candle is blown out can be set alight, allowing the candle to reignite itself |
| Wick composition | Magnesium, or a magnesium-aluminum blend, or an alloy of magnesium with other metals |
| Safety concerns | Presents a fire risk if disposed of while still hot; banned in Canada since 1977 |
| Safety precautions | Extinguish with water before discarding; do not throw away until completely cool |
| Similar products | Wind-resistant candle (patented in 2003 by Earl M. Stenger) |
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What You'll Learn
Trick candles use magnesium
Trick candles, also known as magic candles, are a fun novelty item for birthdays and parties. They are capable of relighting themselves after being blown out, which can be surprising and entertaining for guests. The key to understanding how trick candles work is to first understand how normal candles function.
In a typical candle, the wick is lit, melting the surrounding wax. This liquid wax is then drawn up into the wick, where it vaporizes and burns, keeping the candle lit. When you blow out a regular candle, there is often a small wisp of smoke that rises from the wick. This is vaporized paraffin wax, which has been heated by the dying ember of the wick but has not ignited.
Trick candles use fine flakes or powdered magnesium embedded within the wick. Magnesium is a highly flammable metal with a low ignition temperature of approximately 800°F (430°C). When a trick candle is burning, the wax shields the inner magnesium from oxygen, preventing it from igniting. However, the exposed magnesium near the flame produces sparks as it reacts with oxygen. When the candle is blown out, the wick ember ignites the magnesium. The burning magnesium then sets the paraffin vapour alight, causing the candle to relight itself.
Due to their ability to relight, trick candles can pose a fire risk if not properly extinguished. It is recommended to snuff out or immerse trick candles in water before disposal to ensure they do not accidentally reignite.
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The wick's ember reignites the magnesium
The working mechanism of trick candles is based on the properties of their wicks. When a normal candle is blown out, an ember is left behind in the wick. This ember is hot enough to melt wax, resulting in the production of smoke, known as paraffin vapour. However, the ember cools down and eventually dies out, causing the smoke to dissipate.
Trick candles, on the other hand, have wicks embedded with magnesium, a highly reactive metal. When a trick candle is blown out, the ember in the wick, which is now surrounded by magnesium, ignites the magnesium, causing it to burn rapidly and produce a high temperature. This high temperature is sufficient to ignite the paraffin vapour, resulting in the candle relighting itself.
The use of magnesium in wicks is not a new concept. For years, wicks embedded with magnesium were used in dynamite and by adventurers and hunters in harsh environments. The novelty of trick candles lies in incorporating these wicks into everyday celebratory items, such as birthday candles.
The relighting feature of trick candles is achieved through the strategic combination of the wick's ember and the magnesium within it. The ember ignites the magnesium, which then burns rapidly due to its low ignition temperature. This rapid burning of magnesium generates the heat necessary to ignite the surrounding paraffin vapour, resulting in the candle reigniting.
Despite the entertainment value of trick candles, they have been banned in Canada since 1977 due to safety concerns. The unexpected relighting of discarded trick candles poses a fire risk. To safely extinguish trick candles, it is recommended to immerse them in water before disposal, ensuring they are completely cooled and will not relight.
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Smoke is combustible
Trick candles, also known as magic candles, are a type of candle that can relight themselves. When a candle is blown out, a burning ember in the wick causes a ribbon of paraffin smoke to rise. This ember is hot enough to vaporize paraffin but not ignite it. However, the smoke that is produced is combustible.
Smoke is an aerosol or a mist of solid particles and liquid droplets. It is emitted when a material undergoes combustion or pyrolysis, along with the entrained air. Smoke is composed of tiny solid, liquid, and gas particles, and it can contain hundreds of different chemicals. The composition of smoke depends on the burning fuel and the combustion conditions. For instance, fires with a high availability of oxygen burn at high temperatures and produce less smoke, with particles composed mainly of ash. On the other hand, fires burning with a lack of oxygen produce a wider range of compounds, many of which are toxic, such as carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulfide.
The naked eye can detect particle sizes greater than 7 μm (micrometres). Particles emitted from a fire that are visible are referred to as smoke, while invisible particles are generally called gas or fumes. The colour of smoke can indicate the type of fuel that is burning. For example, white or light grey smoke is usually associated with burning paper, straw, leaves, or wood, while black smoke indicates the presence of carbon.
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Paraffin wax vapourises and reignites
When a candle is blown out, a burning ember in the wick causes a ribbon of paraffin smoke to rise. This ember is hot enough to vaporise the paraffin but not hot enough to ignite the vapour. However, the vapour is combustible and will ignite if exposed to a high enough temperature.
Trick candles, or magic candles, are novelty candles that can relight themselves. They do this by adding something to the wick that the ember is hot enough to ignite, which then ignites the paraffin vapour. The most common substance used is magnesium, a metal that burns at a relatively low temperature of 430°C. This is often combined with other metals such as aluminium or iron.
When a trick candle is blown out, the magnesium in the wick ignites, which then sets the paraffin vapour alight and causes the candle to relight. This can happen multiple times, as long as there is enough magnesium in the wick to ignite. This is why trick candles are often difficult to blow out completely and may relight several times.
The use of magnesium in trick candles has been the subject of some concern due to the fire risk it poses. Unsuspecting individuals may discard hot trick candles, believing them to be extinguished, only for the candles to relight and start a fire. This has led to the banning of trick candles in Canada and other places. To safely extinguish a trick candle, it is recommended to immerse it in water before discarding it.
In summary, trick candles relight themselves due to the vaporisation and ignition of paraffin wax vapour. The addition of magnesium or other metals to the wick provides a source of ignition for the vapour, allowing the candle to relight after being blown out.
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Trick candles are banned in Canada
Trick candles, also known as magic candles, are a fun addition to any birthday party. These candles are designed to relight after being blown out, thanks to the inclusion of magnesium powder in the wick. However, their sale and advertisement have been banned in Canada since 1977. This decision was made due to the fire risk associated with these candles, as they can ignite trash bins if not properly extinguished before disposal.
The chemistry behind these candles is quite simple. Regular candle wax is made from paraffin hydrocarbons, and the wick is usually braided cotton treated with a chemical salt solution to prevent it from burning too quickly. In trick candles, the addition of magnesium powder to the wick is the key to their relighting ability. When the candle is blown out, the hot embers from the wick ignite the magnesium powder, producing sparks that relight the wick by igniting the vaporized paraffin hydrocarbons.
Magnesium is a highly reactive metal, especially when in powder form. It has a low ignition temperature of approximately 800 °F (430 °C), making it ideal for relighting candles. However, this same property also makes it a potential fire hazard. If not thoroughly extinguished, trick candles can reignite when disposed of, leading to dangerous situations.
To address this issue, it is recommended to run trick candles under water before discarding them. This simple step ensures that the candle's oxygen supply is cut off, preventing any accidental fires. While these candles are banned in Canada, they remain legal in the United States and are typically manufactured in Asia.
The ban on trick candles in Canada serves as a reminder of the importance of product safety. While these candles provide entertainment, the potential fire hazards they pose cannot be overlooked, especially when alternative ways to extinguish them effectively exist.
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Frequently asked questions
Trick candles, also known as magic candles, are a type of novelty candle that can relight themselves. They are often used on birthday cakes to surprise children.
When a traditional candle is blown out, an ember in the wick causes a ribbon of paraffin smoke to rise. This ember is not hot enough to ignite the paraffin vapour. However, trick candles have magnesium or similar metals in their wicks. Magnesium has a low ignition temperature, so the ember is hot enough to ignite the magnesium, which then ignites the paraffin vapour, causing the candle to relight.
Trick candles can present a fire risk as consumers may dispose of them before they have fully cooled down, believing them to be extinguished. Due to this risk, trick candles have been banned in Canada since 1977. It is recommended to immerse trick candles in water before discarding them.
