2006-11-17 11:53:29 · 6 answers · asked by Rick A 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
The same way everything else burns: by rapidly combining with oxygen.
In order for anything to burn, three components must be in place:
1) Fuel. You must have some substance ready to oxidize.
2) Oxygen. Obviously, you have to have oxygen available in order to oxidize something. Some fuels, like gunpowder, contain oxydizers (chemicals that store oxygen), and can provide their own oxygen to sustain the reaction.
3) Heat. Every substance has a "flashpoint", the temperature at which the molecules of that substance become unstable enough to begin oxydizing. In the case of paper, that temperature is 451 degrees Farenheit. (Immortalized in Ray Bradbury'sclassic sci-fi novel "Farenheit 451".)
Paper molecules, like all organic molecules, are made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms. In a burn reaction, these molecules break apart, and the atoms reform into simpler molecules: water vapor, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, etc.
2006-11-17 11:55:44 · answer #1 · answered by JV 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Lighters, candles, matches, alcohol...
2006-11-17 12:02:53 · answer #2 · answered by Lisa 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
fire... also dipping the paper in gas, alcohol, and even coating it in napalm.
2006-11-17 12:01:41 · answer #3 · answered by oiandcrust 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
not sure, is over cooking it the right answer?
2006-11-17 12:03:50 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Fire, you idiot! (Joking)
2006-11-17 12:00:59 · answer #5 · answered by No-one 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
water!!!!!!!!!!
2006-11-17 11:56:31 · answer #6 · answered by mnkyinabarrel 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋