2006-07-13 06:13:01 · 11 answers · asked by uto 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Water does contain both hydrogen and oxygen, but in their bonded state the elements do not react readily with certain things (that's why we can drink water). (Water does react with alkalis and acids, however). The water effectively smothers the fire, by not allowing it to access to oxygen. Water stays bonded because of the strong (relative) hydrogen bonds.
2006-07-13 06:24:10 · answer #1 · answered by BabeeOreo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A normal fire will not be hot enough to break the bonds between the hydrogen and oxygen atoms, thus there are no gases involved in the process.
A fire needs oxygen to burn, so when you smother it with water, it has no more fuel and the burning material ceases to burn. That is why you can put out a fire with a blanket (the oxygen flow is cut off before the blanket itself ignites).
2006-07-13 06:26:29 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
While putting out a wood fire, the oxygen stays together with the hydrogen to simply smother the fire out. Wood does not burn hot enough to pull the oxygen molocule out,.......but, a titanium fire you do not want to put water onto it. The excessive heat that titanium burns at will pull the oxygen molocule out of the water to help itself burn and what your left with is hydrogen. Hydrogen around those kinds of temperatures leads to a massive exsplosion. I work in a titanium plant and I have witnessed this happen when someone threw water on a small titanium dust fire.....very impressive reaction.
2006-07-13 06:52:15 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
firstly water is a compound of hydrogen and oxygen and so will not exhibit the properties of hydrogen or oxygen
when you want to put out fire either you cut out the air to stop combustion or you reduce the temperature so that the fire cannot be sustained.it is here water comes in. you pour water till the temperature drops to an extent where the fire cannot sustain itself.
why water?because water is neither combustible nor does it support combustion
2006-07-13 07:20:52 · answer #4 · answered by raj 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ok, just wondering, when you think of water, do you think of it as two seperate gases? no, its a clear liquid. just because something is made of something else doesnt mean it has any of the same properties. something you eat every day is made of two of the most poisonous things on earth: table salt. hydrogen and oxygen gas burn when combined, but the water thats created has completely different chemical properties.
2006-07-13 11:14:05 · answer #5 · answered by The Frontrunner 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hydrogen doesn't. There's not enough Oxygen in the water to do anything.
2006-07-13 06:23:14 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Chemicals have different properties than the atoms that make them. This is the basis of all chemistry
2006-07-13 06:53:38 · answer #7 · answered by satanorsanta 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Water is chemically different than H2 and O2.
2006-07-13 06:30:50 · answer #8 · answered by ag_iitkgp 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think fire extinguishers are made with water.
2006-07-13 06:22:19 · answer #9 · answered by spicy44 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because water doesn't explode on it's own. the bonding network is too tight
2006-07-13 06:36:50 · answer #10 · answered by shiara_blade 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋