What Wax Is Made Of

The Creation of Wax Explained

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By: Michelle Phan, Journalist

Widely speaking wax is a flammable, carbon-containing strong that becomes liquid while heated above room temperature. Waxes encompass an extended-chain fatty acid linked through an ester oxygen to an extended-chain alcohol. They are categorized into two kinds: “natural waxes” derived from animals and plants and petroleum, and “synthetic waxes” which are artificially made. Most people know wax from “candle wax”. Candles were an innovation over oil lamps. Oil itself doesn’t burn for very easily, that’s when the wick comes in.  The wick attracts the oil up and will increase its surface region enough that, within the presence of a flame, a variety of it’s going to vaporize right into a gas. The wax used to make the candles sold in the US each year is thought to weigh 1 billion pounds. How does candle wax disappear? is a frequently asked question. for example, “Where does candle wax go?” Wax is transformed into gas via evaporation. As a result of its molecules being oxidized, water and carbon dioxide are released into the environment. Radiant and thermal energy are produced by the candle. Wax is not just used in candles, it is also used in crayons, casting, and cosmetics. As well as the early stages of chewing gum, they used wax!

 

RELATED STORIES: 

https://www.osmology.co/blog/which-wax/

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/26/science/randall-munroe-candle-xkcd.html#:~:text=Wax%20is%20made%20of%20hydrogen,up%20as%20these%20two%20gases.

 https://candles.org/elements-of-a-candle/wax/

https://www.toyo-chem.com/en/products/wax/about.html 

https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/where-does-candle-wax-go/#:~:text=As%20the%20wax%20starts%20to,water%20vapor%20after%20it%20burns.

 

TAKE ACTION: 

National Association of Candle Makers

https://candles.org/