Do intact wax molecules come in contact with oxygen?

A) No.

The wax molecules are thermally decomposed in the dark zone in the interior of the flame (Zone I).

B) Yes.

The wax molecules vaporize into the blue-green luminous region of the flame where they react with oxygen (Zone II).

 

 

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This quiz is part of:

• Chemistry Advent Calendar,
  ChemViews Mag. 2015.
  https://doi.org/10.1002/chemv.201500102