what exactly fuels it and can oxygen alone + a spark cause a fire?
2006-06-25 17:05:17 · 12 answers · asked by j j 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
3 elements:
Oxygen, heat, & fuel.
2006-06-25 17:10:23 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It a combination of a combustible material and air/oxygen. Many materials are combustible if the HEAT great enough for that material. Paper may ignite @ 200 F when a Rock may ignite @ 10,000 F not sure of the exact temps, just an example. So, a spark and oxygen can start a fire IF the material have a low enough Combustion Point. Some Forest Fires are actually started from broken glass!!!! The sun shine through the glass and the Magnifying effect provides enough HEAT for dry grass/leaves to ignite. Hope this helps, tried to keep it short.
I do want to comment on the oxygen, it a main ingredient. In Computer rooms and Specialty Equipment that not need water etc. to Kill a fire they use Halon Gas. It remove the oxygen (in a way) and Kill the Fire.
2006-06-25 17:13:31 · answer #2 · answered by Snaglefritz 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
this is wrong, wrong, wrong. oxygen is not a fuel. oxygen is an oxidizing agent. oxygen will not burn. period. a spark and oxygen will not (and cannot) cause a fire. there has to be a fuel involved and the fuel is not oxygen. the newer model of fire (flaming combustion) is the fire tetrahedon which consists of fuel (recuding agent), oxidizing agent (oxygen or oxygen found chemically bound in the fuel) energy and the chemical chain reaction (generation of free radicals)
conoclast_e...
2 days ago
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you need fuel + heat + oxygen, and yes oxygen doubles as a fuel, but is very combustible and difficult to store in liquid form so it is not readily used as a fuel.
2006-06-27 23:03:28 · answer #3 · answered by jimmy_d787@sbcglobal.net 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Answers given are good and correct, fire = fuel + heat + air.
All three of these, enough fuel with low enough kindling temperature and air and fire will start. Even from the sun and broken glass. To put out a fire, all you need to do is remove one of the three ingredients. Usually water to lower the temperature or cut off the air by encasing it in water.
2006-06-25 17:34:43 · answer #4 · answered by orion_1812@yahoo.com 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
three things are required to start a fire
1)a combustible material,that is material which can burn
2)a supporter of combustion,that is oxygen or air
3)heat to raise the temperature of the material to its fire pont
when all these things are present together fire breaks out causing the material to get oxidised evolving heat light
2006-06-25 17:18:53 · answer #5 · answered by raj 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The main source is oxygen..
Witout oxygen...Can only a spark give reactions?
2006-06-25 17:10:00 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think the oxygen has to be concentrated to cause an actual blaze.
2006-06-25 17:08:52 · answer #7 · answered by monkeylord_16 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you think about it non chemically a little, like rubbing two sticks together, it's friction, some oxegen like the others are saying, and something to burn... fuel I guess
2006-06-25 17:31:40 · answer #8 · answered by djaked006 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ok.. your question is really confusing, but i tihnk i can anser what you're asking. a fire can start without a spark, all you need is extremely dry..well almsot anything. like straw. if it is really dry the molecules (sp?) move really fast causeing friction, that friction will cause the dry substance to catch fire.
2006-06-25 17:10:31 · answer #9 · answered by kale 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you need fuel + heat + oxygen,
2006-06-25 17:11:01 · answer #10 · answered by iconoclast_ensues 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋