2006-07-01 06:22:53 · 23 answers · asked by welsh wolf 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Because water is a combustion product of burning hydrogen in oxygen.
2006-07-01 06:31:50 · answer #1 · answered by 'Dr Greene' 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
To have fire you need all of the fire tetrahedron:
1) Fuel - any combustible material
2) Oxygen - must be at least 16% available
3) Heat - high temp to create gas vapors off of fuel packages
4) Chemical Chain Reation - the fire creates consistant combustion materials
Once your remove any one of these, the fire it out! Water both reduces the temperature and smothers it of oxygen. Add fuel to water, you have a different problem all together. In this case, you must use powder as water will only spread the fire.
2006-07-01 18:57:06 · answer #2 · answered by Emerson 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because when you combine 2 hydrogen atoms with one oxygen atom, they are no longer separate elements but they combine to form a compound. The reason that H2O doesnt burn is because it is neither hydrogen or oxygen anymore, it is its own substance.
2006-07-01 20:49:05 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just like the man said , "Water is a by-product of spent hydrogen mixed in an oxygenated atmosphere courtesy of our plants and trees, which eat cabon dioxide that we give off. If there wasn't oxygen present of course then the by -product would just be helium I guess. It's weird. We're a walking bomb, oxygen container and who know's what else.
2006-07-01 13:39:31 · answer #4 · answered by LARRY P 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Before becoming H20, imagine this:
Oxygen needs to GAIN 2 electrons on its outer shell of the nucleus to become stable.
Hydrogen needs to LOSE 1 electron to become stable.
So, two hydrogens bond to oxygen to give oxygen a full outer shell. What were both two unstable elements are now stable and safe.
Easy when put simply!
2006-07-03 16:52:43 · answer #5 · answered by Matt W 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Water can burn if you increase the Energy of Activation. This involves breaking the Hydrogen - Oxygen bonds present. Due to the stabilty of these bonds, or if you will the strength of these bonds, it requires quite a bit of energy.
2006-07-01 14:48:29 · answer #6 · answered by Darryl E 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
err water is hydrogen oxide formed by the oxidation of hydrogen by oxygen or the reduction of oxygen by hydrogen whichever is your prefernce. once a material has reacted it cannot undergo further reactions unless it is placed in the precence of a more reactive substance for Hydrogen this would be sodium or oxygen this would be fluorine). if your drop metalic sodium into water the sodium burns being oxidised by the water and releasing hydrogen which is the flame you see over the metal...
2006-07-01 13:54:25 · answer #7 · answered by moikel@btinternet.com 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
water does'nt burn, because the act of combining the hydrogen and oxygen IS the burn. water being the result. now if we can find a quick way to seperate them that would make a realy nice fuel!
2006-07-01 13:46:48 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
properties of elements change when they are combined e,g H20, im not sure what you mean by combustable in this context, combustion envolves burning with oxygen, this can be done with different types of fuel for example hydrogen or butane or propance or something like that. soo there you are.
2006-07-01 15:48:29 · answer #9 · answered by thejur 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that the word burn is the problem. Hydrogen and oxygen molecules effectively cancel each other out when put under pressure. They convert to steam and then re-convert to heavy water when cooled, ie. they are irreducible. If they weren't, we would all die of thirst because of irreversable evaporation.
2006-07-01 19:15:24 · answer #10 · answered by Veritas 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋