2006-07-27 19:32:56 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Family & Relationships ➔ Friends
It is the concentration of oxygen (and the fact that is under pressure) that makes it flamable. We do not breathe pure oxygen. It is a mixture of nitrogen and a bunch of other gases.
2006-07-27 19:38:02 · answer #1 · answered by connorsmom916 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The oxygen in tanks is not really flammable. Oxygen on amplfies the fire. When you light a match (outside) it flares up and burns. What actually burns is the match head and stick. The oxygen in the air just helps it to burn and stay burning.
The oxygen in the tank, is pure and pressurized, which means that it has a much higher potential of helping an existing flame burn.
Think about it, when you let oxygen out of the tank, does it burn? No. But if you hold a flame near the oxygen (coming out of the tank) the flame will get bigger and flare up.
They only put the "flammible" sign on the tanks because they don't want people to bring heat or flames around it.
2006-07-27 19:44:19 · answer #2 · answered by Loc P 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a matter of concentration. Oxygen tanks have a higher concentration of oxygen than the air we breath. In fact the atmospheric air is mostly Nitrogen. Oxygen is needed to fuel a fire. That is why candles in airtight jars burn out. They use up all the oxygen. This is also how chemicals can be used to fight fires. Carbon Dioxide will smother a flame since there is no free oxygen to burn. The oxygen in the tanks will fuel whatever fire is available. It's a fire hazard.
2006-07-27 19:38:04 · answer #3 · answered by practical thinking 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If there was no oxygen you want be able to light a match. Tanks of oxygen are under high pressure that`s why they are dangerous.
2006-07-27 19:37:39 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the match would not burn if there was no oxygen in the air.. the reasons why oxygen tanks are so flammable is because it's pure oxygen..
2006-07-27 19:41:52 · answer #5 · answered by LokoLobo 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the amount of O2 in the atmosphere is only 21% of the atmosphere. Fire/heat has to compete with the CO2, N2 and other gases in the air for fuel. The O2 in the tanks is 100% O2 and is very flammable.
to put it as an analogy. O2 is a fuel (just like gasoline) and when you mix O2 with the rest of the stuff in air you dilute it (like diluting gasoline with water) and it loses it's potential to combust. The reason other things burn (e.g. wood) is because the wood AND the oxygen are the sources of fuel.
2006-07-27 19:35:19 · answer #6 · answered by Fox 34 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
look oxygen in the atmosphere is present as a constituent of a mixture tat is air & hence it is present in a diluted condition(i.e. it is jst abt 21%) so u cn light matches safely bt if u take oxygen in a tank it wil be only oxygen & so it wl be highly concentrated so it is inflammable.
2006-07-27 19:43:49 · answer #7 · answered by shalini 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The atmosphere only contains about 19.5% oxygen. Bottled oxygen is concentrated. And it is flammable.
2006-07-27 19:36:27 · answer #8 · answered by Sir Sandwich Slayer 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
O2 in and by itself is a an inert gas meaning it will not burn or explode. Fire needs Oxygen to perpetuate itself. The more O2 you feed a fire the more intese the flames become this why they tell you not to lite mathes or smoke when O2 is in use so go ahead lite you candle but do not leave it unattended if you are goig to leave the area put your candle out
2016-03-27 03:03:56 · answer #9 · answered by Debra 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the percentage of oxygen in the air we breathe is a lot lower than that of the pure gas thats in those tanks
2006-07-27 19:36:28 · answer #10 · answered by cynthetiq 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋