Why does a candle make no smoke when it is lit but makes a lot of smoke when you blow it out?
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I see people commenting on complete vs incomplete combustion, which is correct. But I haven’t seen anyone mention the reason for a candle have complete or near complete combustion. The key is a term “laminar flow”. the candle wick allows fuel and oxygen to be drawn into the reaction zone in the perfect ratios. This makes the reaction self regulate and create a calm updraft. As long as that updraft is relatively undisturbed the reaction will maintain the rate. Disrupt the flow and the reaction air to fuel mixture is off an now you don’t get perfect, self regulating combustion.
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