When a candle's wax burns, is it a chemical or physical change?

Burning of any type is a chemical change (unless we are talking about the "burning" that goes on in stars). You are taking two or more substances and combining them to create one or more new compounds and releasing energy in the process. In the case of burning wax, you are combining oxygen with paraffin. The reaction creates carbon dioxide, water and some soot + a release of energy. This is a chemical reaction. The energy released does also melt the wax, which is a physical change, but this is not directly involved in the burning itself.

It is a chemical change. Whenever anything burns it is chemical. Wow does this bring me back. Candle wax in it's solid or liquid form does not burn. Bend a burning wick into the liquid wax and the flame will go out. The wick is only there for two purposes the first is to catch fire and create heat to melt the wax and then evaporate it. It is the resulting gas that burns. The second purpose it serves is to guide the flame and keep it centered so the candle burns evenly.

This is admittedly not a complete answer because I didn't explain the burn process itself which is the chemical reaction. Unfortunately it's been a long time since 8th grade. But it was a nice trip down memory lane.

burning or melting?

Melted wax is a physical change.
I've never heard of wax being burned though

it is both chemical and physical my sci class is doing this question from my understandings there is 2 physical changes and 1 chemical change
physical
1)the change of the wax from solid to liquid
2)the change from liquid to gas

chemical)
1)while the wick burns it causes oxygen to (mix)with the burning wax
(gas form)
so since it creates a new molecule it is a chemical change

------- none