Fire-State of matter or not?

Question

Alright, fire is obviously not a solid or liquid, I'm pretty sure it can't be a gas, but is it a form of plasma? Ionized gas? Or is it simply an energy given off by a chemical reaction and isn't a state of matter at all? OR, could it be living? Probably not, just want to hear some opinions on the state of fire, because right now, I'm not sure.

Answer 1

Fire is simply glowing gas. It is not plasma, as it is not hot enough to reach such high ionization as is required of plasma (an 'electrically neutral, highly ionized gas composed of ions, electrons, and neutral particles').

This state of matter can be generated through focused concentrations of energy (such as fuel being exposed to an already open flame or to the sun's rays focused through a lens), or through an exothermic chemical reaction usually accompanied by intense heat released during a rapid loss of electrons from the combustible material (striking a match). Fire may be visible as a brilliant glow and/or flames and may produce smoke.

Fires start when a flammable or combustible material with an adequate supply of oxygen or another oxidizer is subjected to enough heat. The common fire-causing sources of heat include a spark, another fire (such as an explosion, a fire in the oven or fireplace, or a lit match, lighter or cigarette) and sources of intense thermal radiation (such as sunlight, a flue, an incandescent light bulb or a radiant heater). Mechanical and electrical machinery may cause fire if combustible materials used on or located near the equipment are exposed to intense heat from Joule heating, friction or exhaust gas. Fires can sustain themselves by the further release of heat energy in the process of combustion and may propagate, provided there is a continuous supply of oxygen and fuel. Fires may become uncontrolled and cause great damage to and destruction of human life, animals, plants and property.

Fire is extinguished when any of the elements of the so-called fire tetrahedron—heat, oxygen, fuel or the self-sustaining chemical reaction — are removed. The unburnable solid remains of a combustible material left after a fire are called ash.

Answer 2

The ancient Greeks and alchemists thought that fire was an element. They also considered earth, air, and water to be elements. However, the modern definition of an element defines it by the number of protons a pure substance possesses. Fire is made up of many different substances, so it is not an element. For the most part, fire is a mixture of hot gases. Flames are the result of a chemical reaction, primarily between oxygen in air and a fuel, such as wood or propane. In addition to other products, the reaction produces carbon dioxide, steam, light, and heat. If the flame is hot enough, the gases are ionized and become yet another state of matter: plasma.

Answer 3

I agree. Fire is not a state of matter, but a release of energy. Energy itself is not matter, and so fire is not matter. Also, when matter is burned, it is not turned into fire. Rather, the state changed to liquid or gas based on the level of heat. As such, no matter can ever be in a "fire" state.

Answer 4

Fire is the release of energy in some chemical reactions, but not a state of matter.

Answer 5

Matter = anything that has mass and takes up space.

Fire does not have mass; does not take up space, therefore it is not matter.

"Plasma" is a fourth state of matter in which the atoms are in a very high energy state and generally have lost their electrons - more like an ion cloud. Plasma is NOT fire!

Answer 6

Fire does not have a state. When a substance reacts with oxygen in the presence of a high enough temperature (heat energy), it will ignite. The colours that we see is due to the substance burnt, e.g. magnesium = bright white light, potassium = lilac, sodium = yellow...

Similarly, a rainbow does not have a state.

Answer 7

Fire is plasma. the 4th state of matter, all others are wrong. (ionzed gas is also plasma)

Answer 8

fire is more like oxidation. it is not a form of matter.