Final answer:
The observation of a burning candle involves feeling heat, which is a physical change, and seeing black smoke, which is a sign of a chemical change due to incomplete combustion. Wax melting is a physical change, while the production of water and carbon dioxide indicates a chemical reaction.
Step-by-step explanation:
When observing a burning candle, several changes occur due to both physical and chemical reactions.
- Feeling heat above the flame is an example of a physical change due to the energy transfer in the form of heat as a result of combustion.
- The black smoke seen rising from the wick indicates a chemical change, as the smoke is comprised of small carbon particles that result from the incomplete combustion of the wax.
- Wax melting is a physical change; the solid wax is transformed into a liquid state due to the high temperature near the burning wick.
In these observations, chemical changes are identified by indicators such as temperature changes, light emission, new color formation, or bubbles forming without boiling. The burning of wax to generate water and carbon dioxide involves the breaking and forming of molecular bonds, which is a definitive sign of a chemical change.