is it possible to melt, yes melt wood, i no that it is theoreticly possible, but not if its actually possible.

Answer 1

It has been done, but it's very tricky (see link).

Wood is a complex structure of many things: water (already in melted liquid form), cellulose, etc. Heating it makes those structures break apart: the liquid water escapes, but then is vapourised because of the heat of burning. The other products (charcoal, etc) take much higher temperatures to liquify. For these reasons, it does not melt under normal circumstances.

Answer 2

The first thing in this that needs to be answered is will would melt under normal conditions. The simple answer is no. As a lot have people have pointed out, wood will combust before any kind of state changes will occur within the fibres. This does not however answer the question fully.

Given that despite its obvious aversion to state changes under normal conditions it is likely that most of the elements contained will eventually 'melt' or liquify when they are subjected to heat in the absence of a oxidiser.

This is an educated guess. I recommend searching directly or checking other answers for a fuller answer.

Answer 3

I would suspect not!

In an oxygenated atmosphere the wood would combust once it reached a sufficient temperature. Without oxygen I presume that most of the compounds in the wood would undergo chemical decomposition which changes the substance and is therefore not melting which is only a physical change.

Answer 4

How do you know its theoretically possible? You have to remember that we're not talking about an element, wood is a complicated substance with a wide range of different molecules making it up and more than this it has internal structure making it quite flammible - something man has exploited for up to several hundred thousand years!

If you heat wood without exposing it to a direct flame it will begin to smoke and shortly after that it will spontaneously ignite from the radiant heat - you can't get it to melt.

Answer 5

Melting is caused by energy change which affect the strength (kinetic energy in particles). Mostly you increase the energy, as in ice (when freezing particles in water loses kinetic energy thus gradually can only vibrate) but when energy (heat energy is applied) particles convert heat energy into kinetic energy which gradually become vigorous. Thus the bond (attraction) between particles become less, particles start to move and later move freely. The ice melts. Different material has different melting point. Wood, too, theoretically can melt, but unnoticeable as it is made up of combustible material. It burns as soon as it melts. Yes because of oxygen is present, again. Without oxygen or in vacuum, I guest, it just disintegrated into particles.

Answer 6

I would guess that the strict answer is no as the fibres will not retain their solidity when heated but burn. If you dissolve in acid then it is not melted per se. To melt normally you heat and even if heated in a vacuum then the wood will probably carbonise.

Answer 7

no, heating it up will drive the water out and carbonise the cell structures.

Wood is a mixture, so heating it will have different effects on the constituant parts.

Water will evaporate, some saps will melt, cells will carbonise#

by the time "carbon" melts its no longer wood

Answer 8

If you are using the word melt to infer that raising the temperature of something will result in it liquefying, then obviously not.

Answer 9

Yes, of course, using the right chemicals you can practically melt anything.I can't recall the question mentioning fire, can you?

Answer 10

Yes under the right conditions (oxygen less environment).