232 SCIENCE OF COMMON THINGS. 



Phenomena of combustion in the flame of a candle. 



an almost imperceptible light, but with a powerful 

 evolution of heat; this causes the carbon, simultane- 

 ously eliminated, to become incandescent and conse- 

 quently luminous. 



1551 As more carbon is successively -eliminated, what becomes of it ? 



The moment the incandescent floating carbon comes 

 to the edge of the flame, it finds the oxygen of the air, 

 unites with it, and becomes converted into the invisible 

 gas, carbonic acid, while its place is occupied immedi- 

 ately by another portion of solid carbon. 



1553 What if there is not sufficient oxygen to consume the carbon 1 



It then passes off as soot, and we say the candle 



smokes. 



1553 Where is the tallow or wax of a candle decomposed f 



In the wick. The melted tallow or wax rises up the 

 wick by capillary attraction, and is rapidly decom- 

 posed by the heat of the flame. 



1554 Of what three parts does the flame of every lamp or 

 candle consist ? 



The flame of every lamp or candle consists 

 of three cones. The innermost cone (a, Fig. 

 49) consists of gaseous matter produced by the 

 decomposition of the tallow ; this is at a tem- 

 perature below redness. Around it is the lu- 

 minous cone (b\ consisting of burning hydro- 

 gen, in which the particles of carbon float at a 

 white heat ; and on the very outside (c), a 

 thin, hardly-perceptible veil in which carbon 

 is burning. The veil is of a blue color, most 

 plainly seen at the bottom of the flame. 



1555 Which is the hottest part of thejlame f 



The pale Hue flame ; this marks the point where 

 the combination of the oxygen, supplied from without, 

 with the combustible matter evolved from the interior 

 takes place. 



155G Why does thejlame of a candle point upwards ? 



Because it heats the surrounding air, which 



