What is fire?

Question

Obviously it isn't an element because we use elements to "create" it. But what is fire technically? Is it classified as pure energy or the combustion of molecules? Could it be the temperature at which oxygen burns or possibly a "result" of certain chemicals when mixed?

Answer 1

JLynes gave a very good and scientific answer...if you know what all the words mean. Here is a more basic version:

As you increase the temperature of an object, it starts to break down and vapors begin to escape. Some things (like paper products, textiles, and volatile fluids like gasoline) do this very readily, while others (like metals) require substantially more heat. In any case, often times the vapors given off will support combustion when mixed with oxygen.

The visible flame you observe is nothing more than the light and heat of that combustion process. Heated vapors are rising from the fuel and being continuously ignited by the combustion of the vapors that left immediately before. As the material gives off these vapors, it's chemical composition is changing...thus changing the appearance of the object and creating the ashes and cinders that are left behind.

In a nutshell, it's not even the object itself which is burning...just the vapors. The heat created by the combustion process heats up the fuel even more, perpetuating the whole process.

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

Technically fire is simply the combination of heat and light energy resulting from a combustion reaction or a fast exothermal reaction. Different temperatures can cause it to be different colors...blue is hotter, red is (relatively) cooler. Speaking as someone who camps, however, fire is much more--it is a useful tool, especially when it comes to bringing people together after a long day out on the lake waterskiing.

Answer 3

Fire is an exothermic chemical reaction that occurs when oxygen combines with a vaporized fuel in the presence of high temperatures.

Answer 4

Fire is a rapid oxidation process that creates light, heat, smoke, and releases energy in varying intensities. It is commonly used to describe either a fuel in a state of combustion (e.g., a campfire, or a lit fireplace or stove) or a violent, destructive and uncontrolled burning (e.g., in buildings or a wildfire).

Answer 5

what we call "fire" is just the rapid oxydation of any substance.

take iron, expose it to oxygen, it rusts. But if you went to high enough a temperature, you could get it to burn.

take paper. At normal temperature it won't oxidize. Heat it up enough, and it "catches fire". Then the reaction generates enough heat to become self-sustaining.

"fire" does not exist, it is not an element.

hope this helps

Answer 6

Technically, "fire" is not made of matter. It is simply the light and heat created by combustion.

Answer 7

Fire is basically a chemical reaction that releases light and heat.

Answer 8

Fire is the combination of heat, fuel and oxygen. That is all there is to say.

Answer 9

Besides conceisness, fire has all the properties of a living creature. It consumes fuel to survive, it multiplies, it needs oxygen to survive.

Answer 10

Its pure energy in different forms. Light, heat, sound.