You can touch it and it hurts, but you cant put it under a microscope and study it, it has no substance we know what starts it , but; as it got atoms, you cant break it down in a lab what is it
2007-02-23 08:03:03 · 12 answers · asked by denis9705 5 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
fire is the energy released by any exothermic chemical reaction.
The energy is detected by observers as radiant heat and light and sound. The atoms involved also gain a lot of thermal kinetic energy which is dissipated by conduction,convection and radiation.
2007-02-23 09:33:51 · answer #1 · answered by peter c 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Fire is a reaction. Hence the reason you can see its effects (heat, light, etc.) even though it has no substance. Essentially fire is the rapid combination of oxygen and a flammable material. The reaction is exothermic, meaning it releases energy.
It may interest you to know that most explosions are the result of an extremely fast variation of this process while rust is an extremely slow variation.
2007-02-23 16:32:40 · answer #2 · answered by accurrent103 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Fire is a chemical reaction between a fuel and oxygen taken from the atmosphere.
It is an exothermic reaction (gives out heat energy) but needs starting by a form of ignition .. (spark or other sufficient heat source).
Once ignited the fire will continue to burn as long as a suitable
fuel and oxygen is available. Cut off the fuel or oxygen and the fire will go out.
2007-02-24 09:15:45 · answer #3 · answered by Norrie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I asked the same question to my physics teacher. He said "Good question, put simply its excited atoms"
This is a very brief explanation though.
2007-02-24 04:52:44 · answer #4 · answered by Graeme 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's ENERGY.
Just like Light from the Sun (energy is released when hydrogen atoms fuse -|nuclear fusion|- to make helium) .
Light isn't made of Atoms, Sound isn't made of Atoms...
Think about that...
2007-02-23 17:09:17 · answer #5 · answered by Izela 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
There are three main ingredients to a fire. Heat, fuel and oxygen. Take any one away and the fire dies.
2007-02-23 16:18:15 · answer #6 · answered by Hi T 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
physical reaction which requires oxygen and combustible/flammable material to sustain its process of molecular breakdown???
changes flammable non-liquid material to ash
changes liquid into steam
and so on...
i am of course speaking in free form and not so technical
2007-02-23 18:21:46 · answer #7 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Fire is the rapid oxidation of a material.
2007-02-23 16:10:47 · answer #8 · answered by credo quia est absurdum 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think... it's the fourth state of an element (after solid, liquid, gas); a Plasma.
2007-02-23 16:10:17 · answer #9 · answered by chris a 1 · 1⤊ 2⤋
It can be explained by the process by which it happens, but no one really knows what it is. It is God's ultimate cleanser? scarey
2007-02-23 16:26:25 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋