It is said that oxygen is combustable, and one should not light a cigarrette near it, but fireman can go into a burning building with oxygen/oxygen tanks and nothing happens.
2007-01-09 23:51:52 · 6 answers · asked by St♥rmy Skye 6 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
O2 is a oxidizing agent......the most vital one in our atmosphere. It's the one our body use to oxidate our food, getting CO2, water and Energy. The same for most organisms.
Every time we light something on fire, we're actually oxidizing the giving compund......we see flames and feel the heat, because it's such a exothermic reaction (heat producing). If you add more oxygen to the reaction, it will react even more violently.......bigger flames, more heat.
In out atmosphere we have 20% oxygen.......which apparently is enough to keep the oxidation of the tobacco going, but not enough to make it burn.
If you had 100 % oxygen, we increase the pressure/concentration of oxygen 5 times!! This will give the reaction an extrem 'boost', and the cigarette will burst into flames.
Firemen have atmospheric air in their tanks, which contains 20% oxygen....just as the surrounding air (just without the smoke), so it presents no significant danger. Of course it's at a higher pressure, but it's also well protected by tough metal coating.
Some guy above utters his opinion about your question....saying that even to ask this question is an act of ignorance.
He should keep in mind that Oxygen it's responsible for 99% of all life, for all fires ever started and even for the biochemical processes that makes his brain work........maybe he should breathe in a little harder!!
2007-01-10 00:43:06 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Scotty: Air is only about 20% oxygen, the rest being nitrogen (~80%), carbon dioxide and noble gases. Oxygen is very combustible, if you want to see this in action try lighting a candle and placing it in a small jar with the lid on it. It will go out very quickly.
2007-01-10 09:38:41 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Uhh what are you talking about? Oxygen is the air. We breathe in oxygen. Oxygen isn't conbustable. Ok if in your facts, there is a person smoking a cigarrette then their arm would blow up. Do you think its combustable now?
Ok now that does that make sense?
2007-01-10 08:03:49 · answer #3 · answered by Scotty 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Oxygen is highly reactive with many things. But the tanks that firemen use effectively segregate the gas from anything it might react with.
Regardless, I think they would use air tanks, not O2.
2007-01-10 08:04:12 · answer #4 · answered by gebobs 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is contained withint he cylinder at the time. It is if the oxygen is leaking that it causes the problems.
2007-01-10 08:05:46 · answer #5 · answered by caz_v8 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The oxegen stays in the mask and in the tank.
2007-01-10 07:59:46 · answer #6 · answered by rastus7742 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋