can cigarettes light gasoline on fire?

Answer 1

yes

Answer 2

Temperature without drawing:
Side of the lit portion: 400 deg C (or 752 deg F)
Middle of the lit portion: 580 deg C (or 1112 deg F)

Temperature during drawing:
Middle of the lit portion: 700 deg C (or 1292 deg F)

The above numbers represent the average we obtained by performing several trials and can be considered accurate to within 50 deg C. A standard Fe-CuNi digital thermocouple thermometer was used in all trials.

The Autoignition Temperature of a standard unleaded gasoline can be anywhere from 260 to 460 degrees C (or 500 to 860 deg F) as quoted on the FAQ: Automotive Gasoline Web Page by Bruce Hamilton (this page is also an excellent and accurate resource about the science of gasoline)

So as you can see the temperature of the cigarette, even at the side of the lit portion, is more than enough to cause gasoline to autoignite. However, there are many other factors that one should take into account. It matters how the cigarette actually falls onto the surface to the gasoline. There is a lower chance of autoignition if the cigarette falls on it's side where the temperature is lower. Also, the temperature of the gasoline itself matters. If the gasoline is cold to start with then there is again a lower chance of autoignition. One should also consider the amount of the gasoline that you have, namely if you have a large volume of gasoline that would mean that the there is enough surrounding liquid for the heat to go into and therefore the temperature of the gasoline-cigar contact spot would due to heat conduction of the gasoline decrease rapidly, therefore reducing the chance for autoignition. On the contrary, if you have a nice thin film of the gasoline, the chances of the autoignition increase. Also, the evaporation of the gasoline at the point of the contact will also act to reduce the actual contact temperature rapidly.
We are aware of at least one experimental trial (conducted by our colleague at the university) where the gasoline did not ignite upon contact with a lit cigar. This just means that all of the above conditions were not in favour of the ignition.

However, It is important to realize that the gasoline vapour has a much lower autoignition temperature than the gasoline itself. Namely, if you spill gasoline on a hot road (say in the hot summer day) you will be able to ignite gasoline by contact with a cigarette easily, just because of the gasoline vapour layer that would be produced above the surface of the gasoline. Not to even mention throwing the cigarette into the container with gasoline that has been closed for some time and is therefore full of gasoline vapours.

So for all of you smokers out there that are wondering why you are not allowed to smoke at gas pump stations, these are the real scientific reasons. It is dangerous and science is telling us that the temperature of the cigarette, given the appropriate conditions, is enough to cause gasoline to autoignite (and in case of the gas pump station this would be disastrous.)

Heres the link!!

Answer 3

No, you're right. It's the vapor/fumes of gasoline that are combustible. It takes an open ignition source expose to gasoline vapors in order to ignite them. It's like in the movies, when they flick a cigarette into a puddle of gasoline to ignite it. That doesn't actually work. The liquid gas immediately extinguishes the embers, so there's no ignition source for the gasoline vapors.

Answer 4

Possible
Myth Busters:
The end of a lit cigarette is between 450-500 degrees F. Gasoline ignites between 500-540 degrees F., according to Rob Lee. But, even though they drop, put, and even roll the cigarette in the gasoline, they can't get the gas to ignite.

Answer 5

Can A Cigarette Ignite Petrol

Answer 6

A lit cigarette can ignite the fumes of petrol. In a controlled environment where an oxygen source is eliminated the petrol would not ignite but saying that without oxygen the cigarette would not stay lit either.

Answer 7

The ignition temperature of gasoline is 495 degrees F.

The temperature at the lit end of a cigarette is 880 degrees F.

Yes, a cigarette can ignite gasoline.

Answer 8

It is my understanding that, no, the cherry can't ignite gas... from an ex-military pilot, his internal-combustion plane of sort (ie. gas, not Jet-A) went down... long story short, he tried to blow up the craft by cigarette-in-wingtank, and couldn't ger it blown. Had to resort to lit matchbook. The tank was still intact... with high concentrations of fumes, to boot.
Maybe others haver different experiences... I only report what I've heard first-hand, and not Hollywood.

Answer 9

It is possible if they create a spark when thrown into the gas. However, I owned a gas station once and actually threw a lit cigarette into some freshly spilled gas. It went out.

Answer 10

A lit cigarette can ignite gasoline and can be so explosive that it would be a dangerous act. Be careful and considerate of others.

Answer 11

i actually just used this article for a project im doing for school. yes. cigarettes can and do light gasoline on fire. just read this article that happened about a month ago. : )