2006-12-19 01:58:09 · 10 answers · asked by jenkster 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
The water vapourises in the oil. As water boils at 100'C & normal chip pans are around 250 - 350 'C the vapourisation is almost instant. This rapid expansion of the steam in the oil causes the oil to form a spray thus the surfaces area of the oil increases and ignition is all too easy.
Hence always cover a chip pan fire with a fire blanket - NEVER EVER USE WATER.
Note - 1 litre of water makes approximately 1200 litres of steam.
2006-12-19 02:09:51 · answer #1 · answered by Anchor Cranker 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Water does not ignite DOH... but it is heaver than oil, so it falls to the bottom of the pan, where the heat from the burning oil above causes it to turn into its gas state, steam - which then bubble up through the burning oil, making the whole surface spash out of the way, the longer the oil has been burning before the water is added, the greater the reaction, the bigger the ball of expanding flames and oil.
2006-12-19 02:03:19 · answer #2 · answered by DAVID C 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is already on fire, as you have said.
The water causes a major splatter effect by reacting with the hot oil, causing burning oil to blast everywhere. This is probably the burst of ignition that you are seeing.
If you drip a small amount of water into any hot oil you will see and hear the spit & splatter, but be careful, you may get burned by hot oil splattering and spitting everywhere and if you are using gas the spits could well ignite in the air near the flame.
2006-12-19 02:06:16 · answer #3 · answered by Billybean 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ok ... water (H2O) is made up of oxygen and hydrogen (both gases that burn)... when you add watter to boiling oil that has combusted it turns to steam/ie its gas form as well as displacing the oil in the pan up before it does so...
net result is a flash caused by the oxidants increasing the power of the flames and a fountain of burning oil caused by the displacement... the idiot who poured water onto the fire now as no eyebrows and a no kitchen ceiling (best case) or is blinded and rolling on the floor in flames waiting to burn to death (worse case).
a wet towel placed over the pan has the exact opposite effect... reduces the flames access to oxygen (fire fuel) and keeps the oil in the pan rather then spreading it all over... and remains the best solution to oil-pan fires.
2006-12-19 02:06:18 · answer #4 · answered by Zarathustra 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should never pour water on hot oil, its an insane thing to do.
The aggressive bubbling of the hot oil is caused because oil floats on water and its down to the displacement of the oil by the water which causes the oil to vapourise and is then set on fire when it comes into contact with either the hot plate or gas burner.
2006-12-19 02:16:00 · answer #5 · answered by robert x 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Adding water to hot cooking ooil will make the cooking oil bubble up so fiercly that it spills over and the gas ring and ignites the oil
2006-12-19 02:01:22 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It thins the fuel source out and what else is in water? Hmm?
Thats right o2, loads of oxygen. Fire like Oxygen.
2006-12-19 02:00:10 · answer #7 · answered by sharper 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
oil covered water vapour is on fire, as the vapour expands to a gas the oil around the 'bubbles' catches fire and givs the spectactular show
2006-12-19 02:00:19 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It doesnt burn, just spreads the oil because the oil is less dense so goes ontop.
2006-12-19 07:10:13 · answer #9 · answered by Luke S 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I guess its the oxygen in the water
2006-12-19 02:17:49 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋