2006-08-12 17:35:42 · 6 answers · asked by christine2550@sbcglobal.net 2 in Environment
Essentially yes. Modern physics suggests that everything vaporizes before it combusts.
Read that long answer carefully... the second stage he even admits that the flame occurs as a result of flammable gas evolution (production.) Yes trees burn, but they burn because they release flammable gasses and vaporize certain chemicals contained in the wood. If this wasn't true, you would not need to get something hot for it to burn. Autoignition temp and flashpoint show the direct link between vaporization and flammability. If you can't heat something to the point where it either releases some vapor/gas or simply converts to a vapor/gas you will not get it to burn.
2006-08-12 17:39:03 · answer #1 · answered by tripforyou 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
G'day Christine2550,
Thanks for your question.
No it isn't true that only gases and vapors burn. However, it requires both fuel and an oxidant which is mainly oxygen.
Combustion or burning is a complex sequence of chemical reactions between a fuel and an oxidant accompanied by the production of heat or both heat and light in the form of either a glow or flames.
Since not every oxidation process results in the production of heat (for example, corrosion), the term combustion can only be applied to exothermic processes that occur at a rate fast enough to produce heat.
The act of combustion consists of three relatively distinct but overlapping phases:
* Preheating phase, when the unburned fuel is heated up to its flash point and then fire point. Flammable gases start being evolved in a process similar to dry distillation.
* Distillation phase or gaseous phase, when the mix of evolved flammable gases with oxygen is ignited. Energy is produced in the form of heat and light. Flames are often visible.
* Charcoal phase or solid phase, when the output of flammable gases from the material is too low for persistent presence of flame and the charred fuel does not burn rapidly anymore but just glows and later only smoulders.
I have attached some sources for your reference.
Regards
2006-08-13 00:58:13 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
well, i m not sure but wood isnt a gas or vapor, but burning it may release gasses or vapors
2006-08-13 00:39:22 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
HARDLY. COMBUSTION IS POSSIBLE IN ALL TYPES OF MATTER, IE FOREST FIRES WHERE WOOD BURNS, AS WHEN ANY MATERIAL REACHES ITS FLASHPOINT, IT WILL IGNITE.
2006-08-13 00:49:28 · answer #4 · answered by chris 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No... solids (wood, coal) and liquids also burn.
2006-08-13 00:42:36 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Christine?....have you been lighting "FARTS" again?
2006-08-13 01:10:06 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋