Explain Why Candle Wax Has A Relatively Low Melting Point?

[Unicorn_03]

Candle wax is a covalently bonded compound. Explain why candle was has a relatively low melting point?

[Buenchico]

Nicely explained here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/standard/chemistry/propertiesofsubstances/ionic/revision/3/

[theprof]

Good link there Chris.

If I can expand a little upon this Unicorn_03, you have to realise that the bonds between atoms in a single molecule of candle wax such as C-H and C-C, are very strong and cannot be easily broken.

However, there are no chemical bonds between one molecule of candle wax and another molecule of candle wax. Despite this, there is a weak attractive force between one molecule and another molecule. This is because of the movement of electrons between molecules. This force is known as van der Walls forces and you may well have heard of these forces. Nevertheless it is important to remember that van der Walls forces are very weak.

All this means that the molecules do not hold onto one another very well. In turn, it means that it requires relatively little heat for the van der Walls forces to be broken causing the wax to melt at relatively low temperature.

In fact, candle wax can be regarded as being absolutely on the borderline between the solid and liquid phase and consequently, it does not take much energy to convert between one and the other.

[shoota]

Candle wax gets on my wick.....