Can frozen gasoline catch fire?

Question

If I were to hold a cube of frozen gasoline under a flame, would it combust?

We all know that gasoline freezes at temperatures around -120 degrees. Gasoline is a hydrocarbon, meaning it is composed of long chains of carbon and hydrogen. It can have anything from seven to eleven carbons per chain. We know that gasoline is flamable in its original state, but when it is frozen, it is obviously cold. It being cold is one of the things that make me think it wont catch fire.
I know that water is made when heat fuses hydrogen and oxygen. The hyrdogen in the gasoline and the oxygen in the air may fuse when under a flame causing it to melt into a liquid. Being flamable in its liquid state, it would catch fire, thus continuing to burn the cube until completely melted and burned. These are only my hypothesis. Tell me what you think.

Answer 1

I believe it would definitely combust... as soon as it heats up.

Gasoline combusts at around 1950 degrees Celsius. So if you take gasoline that's at -120 degrees, you'll need for it to heat up before it combusts.

First Law of Thermal Dynamics and the Adiabatic combustion temperatures should help explain how all this works.

Don't forget that you wouldn't ever have a burning cube of frozen gasoline. As the outside of the cube begins to melt, it will burn and evaporate... think about the way a water ice cube melts if you were to light a fire under it.

Answer 2

I think it won't catch fire for some seconds. If the contact with the flame is slightly longer than some instants, the gasoline will melt, become liquid and in consequence, it will catch fire.

If it's a spark hitting a gasoline ice cube, nothing will happen. But make it last a bit longer and you're doomed. With a freezing point of -120, it seems like an easy chemical to melt.

Answer 3

Gasoline is only flammable when it is on the vapor phase. Liquid and solid gasoline will not ignite. They say that you can put out a match in a can of gasoline but I've never been curious enough to find out for sure.

If you were to hold a cube of frozen gasoline over a flame it would eventually combust but only after it changes from the solid phase to the gas phase.

Answer 4

Gasoline will burn when the proper stoichiometric ratios (air to gas ratio) is met which usually requires that it be vaporized. There is gasoline vapor above the gasoline liquid which is burning. In frozen gasoline there would still be vapor but less. Whether it will burn would depend on the temperature of the frozen gaoline and the amount of oxygen in the air around it. So I guess the answer is, it depends.

Answer 5

In order for anytning to burn it must reach its kindling point temperature. Gasoline whien frozen has a temp that is well below that of the burning temp. The gasoline would need to warm up to melt and continue to warm before its temp would allow for a 'burn'. The short answer is no, frozen gasoline will not burn. It must melt first.

Answer 6

Actually, I dont think the gasoline is flammable in it's liquid state. It needs to be vaporized. If it's -120, and you put it under a flame, it will melt, vaporize, and burn.

Answer 7

Liqiud gasoline does not burn...It is the vapors that burn.

The answer to your question is yes. The flame would melt the "gas cube" turning it into a gaseous state and blowing your butt across the yard.

Answer 8

yah it will still catch fire only if u set the cube on fire. if u just put the match near the frozen gasoline it will turn back to liquid then catch fire.lol!!
hope this helps!!

Answer 9

Frozen Gasoline

Answer 10

Only the vapors of gas are flammable, if the heat did not vaporise the frozen cube's surface then no it wouldn't.