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VL

Review of Literature

Many people keep candles in their homes for special occasions or just because they want different lighting. However, very few people actually know that much about the correct usage of flames, the anatomy of a flame, or the flammability of common household objects. Studies have been done to find out more about these important subjects.

According the National Candle Association, (NCA), candle wicks should be trimmed to ¼ of an inch before use. Bent or crooked wicks may cause uneven burning or dripping. The NCA also suggests that candle users not keep anything under or near a candle. One candle making company in Illinois says that candles should be at least 3" from each other. Since heat rises, it is also advised not to keep things directly overhead. It is recommended to keep candles in flame resistant containers as well. (“Candle Safety Info”)

Candles work in a very interesting way. A flame is the chemical reaction between a fuel and oxygen. The candle’s fuel in the form of wax is melted by the heat and turns into a gas. The gas fills the inside of the flame. Outside of the flame are oxygen molecules. At the surface of the flame, the two gases meet, and that is where the chemical reaction takes place. This is called the ‘combustion reaction zone’. (“Anatomy of a Flame”)

A candle flame is divided into three different sections: the blue section, the orange section, and the blue section. The blue section is rich in oxygen. Hydrocarbon molecules vaporize. Then they begin to break apart into hydrogen and carbon atoms. The hydrogen reacts with the oxygen to form water vapor. Carbon dioxide is formed by some of the carbon. This is where the ‘combustion reaction zone’ is. The orange section has very little oxygen in comparison to the blue section. In the orange zone, the different forms of carbon keep breaking down until small, hardened particles form.("How Fire Works") The water vapor, carbon dioxide, and carbon particles all begin to rise. They are heated to about 1000 degrees Centigrade. The amount of soot/ carbon particles increases in the yellow zone. They also rise and continue to heat. Eventually the particles ignite and a flame can be seen. The temperature is approximately 1200 deg. C on the surface. (“Science of Candles”)

Most household objects are flammable, a fact overlooked by many. A few important items that can be very flammable are various fabrics. Fabrics are everywhere in a house- clothing, furniture, curtains, etc. You can find quite a lot of fabric in the average bedroom, which may help to explain why most household fires begin in the bedroom. ("Flammability of Fabrics")

Certain fabrics are more flammable than others. For example, silk is probably one of the most flammable materials, while wool burns with a low flame velocity. Untreated fabrics such as cotton, linen, and silk burn quite easily. Heavy, tight weave fabrics burn slower than loose weave light fabrics of the same material. Synthetic fabric, like nylon, acrylic or polyester, resist ignition, but will melt. Linen and cotton also have a high burning rate. (“Flammability of Fabrics”)

Another thing that is quite flammable is hair. It might not be a household item, necessarily, but it is exposed to flames quite often. Hair is made of Keratin, which is a protein made with hair follicles. It is made of 51% carbon, 21% oxygen, 17% nitrogen, 6% hydrogen, and 5% sulfur. When a decent amount of heat is applied to the hair, the chemical bonds break and remix. The carbon combines with oxygen and makes CO2. The oxygen in the hair assists the burning, and the nitrogen gets converted to nitrogen oxides. The sulfur combines with oxygen to make sulfur dioxide. The smell of burning hair comes from the sulfur compounds. (“Hair and Flammability”)

All of this information is important because it can come into play in the real world. If you set up candles in a room, you have to make sure to keep all objects- especially the very flammable objects- a safe distance from the candles, as they could catch on fire. Hair could catch on fire if someone were to lean over a flame, which is a bad idea in itself. The hair could hang in the flame and ignite. Anyone can learn to use candles effectively, as long as they are responsible and use good common sense.

= **Works Cited** = "The Anatomy of a Flame." //A Moment of Science RSS//. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2013. <[]>.
 * Donald Glass is an M.D. and has a Ph.D. from Baylor College of Medicine.

" Candle Safety Info, Burn Candles Safely, Candle Burning Tips." // Candle Safety Info, Burn Candles Safely, Candle Burning Tips //. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Sept. 2013. <[]>.
 * They are a candle-making company in Illinois. Because they make candles, they know what they are talking about.

"Candle Safety Rules." //National Candle Association: Fire Safety -//. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Sept. 2013. <[]>.
 * This is a website from the National Candle Association, or the NCA. It acts as a spokesperson for the candle industry.\\

"Flammability of Fabrics - Resist Flame Finishing." //Flammability of Fabrics - Resist Flame Finishing//. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2013.[|].
 * They are a fabric company in which they specialize in making wallpaper and fabrics flame resistant.

"Hair and Flammability." //Hair and Flammability//. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2013. [|].
 * It is a website made by teachers for teachers who know the information. Nigel Skelton is a real teacher at Tennant Creek High School.

Hamins, Anthony, and Matthew Bundy. "Characterization of Candle Flames." N.p., 2005. Web. 25 Sept. 2013. <[]>.
 * Anthony Hamins is Chief of the Fire Research Division, and Matthew F. Bundy is the director of the Fire Research Division.

"How Fire Works." //HowStuffWorks//. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2013. <[]>.
 * Subsidiary of Discovery Communications and was founded by Professor Marshall Brain.

"The Science of Candles." //National Candle Association: About Candles//. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Sept. 2013. <[]>.
 * Made for the purpose of safety with flames by the National Candle Association, a respectable association.