YEETAWAYLOL OP t1_j9ywled wrote on February 25, 2023 at 4:16 PM

Reply to comment by XxCotHGxX in Eli5 What happens when you “slap” a flame to put it out? by YEETAWAYLOL

Hang on. My understanding was that blowing out a candle suffocated it (your breath was all CO2). Is that understanding incorrect?

PixieBaronicsi t1_j9yxbz4 wrote on February 25, 2023 at 4:21 PM

No, the air you breathe out is only about 5% carbon dioxide. It still contains about 15% oxygen, compared to about 20% oxygen in regular air

XxCotHGxX t1_j9yxdsd wrote on February 25, 2023 at 4:21 PM

Yes that understanding is incorrect. Your breath is not all CO2 and contains enough oxygen for combustion.

camkatastrophe t1_j9yxhii wrote on February 25, 2023 at 4:22 PM

The CO2 doesn’t help, but it’s not the reason it goes out. A candle can be extinguished by a fan or wind blowing regular air with normal oxygen richness just the same.

YEETAWAYLOL OP t1_j9yxoya wrote on February 25, 2023 at 4:23 PM

Yeah, I guess I was kinda stupid there. You also blow on fires when they are first starting, so I should have realized that it doesn’t necessarily put it out.

TheHam06 t1_j9yxthl wrote on February 25, 2023 at 4:24 PM

Think of the concept of blowing gently on a small fire to make it grow. They steady stream of fresh o2 from your breath gives it more oxygen than the air around the fire.