2006-08-12 16:59:42 · 9 answers · asked by christine2550@sbcglobal.net 2 in Environment
No. But what is "sufficient"?
In 21% oxygen, gasoline vapors will burn when the gasoline vapors are between 1.3% and 6%. Below and above those limits, it is too lean or too rich to support a flame front.
Gasoline vapor will burn in less than 21% oxygen, but its range of flammability (that 1.3 to 6%) narrows. The FAA concluded (URL below) that 9% oxygen is the lower limit for fuel vapors to ignite. That's why large, used gasoline tanks are inerted with CO2 or nitrogen prior to transport.
Outside of the "flammabilty envelope" gasoline will not burn in a flame at room temperatures. You can oxidize them above 500F on a cataylst surface, like the platinum / palladium element in your catalytic converter.
If you get the air temps above 1200F, low concentrations of gasoline will react with low concentrations of oxygen. That reaction goes pretty quickly at 1400F.
2006-08-16 07:30:34 · answer #1 · answered by David in Kenai 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nothing will burn without sufficient oxygen. Humans breathe air that is normally 21 percent oxygen, but we can survive by breathing air with as low of an oxygen content as 16 percent. Combustion can occur in air with an oxygen content of 14 percent. And to the guy who thought there was not enough oxygen to ignite a match thrown into a bucket of gasoline, as long as you wait until the vapors are gone off the gasoline, it will put out a fire as quickly as water. The vapors are what burns.
2006-08-12 17:13:49 · answer #2 · answered by leadfoot126 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Three items are needed for a fire/flame/explosion....
1) oxygen
2) fuel... this could be wood/gasoline/paper/clothing/etc.
3 ignition... another flame/spark/extream temperature
The whole concept of a gas station is a bunch of fuel and a lot of electric... To keep these places from blowing up, evey part of the electrical end of things is explosion proof by using seal-offs in the rigid conduit and all junctions are in a air tight j-box... this eliminates the oxygen which in turn eliminates the explosion.
2006-08-15 16:39:16 · answer #3 · answered by and,or,nand,nor 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No burning will not occur without oxygen, combustion is defined as the reaction that takes place with oxygen.
2006-08-12 17:07:47 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes and no.
Complete oxidation should yield CO2 and H20 (and other crap due to additives).
However, if there is insufficient oxygen for complete oxidation, you'll get CO and H20 (and other crap due to additives).
The "other crap" changes with insufficient oxygen too, i think, but i can't remember exactly what that crap is.
And if you have no oxygen at all, it just won't burn.
2006-08-12 17:05:27 · answer #5 · answered by extton 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, I don't think so - I've seen several people through a lit match into a full gas can with no explosion (i guess because there wasn't enough oxygen in the can to ignite.
2006-08-12 17:09:09 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
yes it will not burn without sufficient oxygen
2006-08-12 17:05:46 · answer #7 · answered by Joe P 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What's the point of all these questions, R U a Pyro or something ?
2006-08-12 17:05:13 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No...
2006-08-12 17:08:21 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋