What is Fire?

Question

Its not matter, Its produced by burning matter. Its not an energy, it gives out energy- heat and light. My physics teacher told me everything is either matter or energy but fire doesnt seem to be either

Answer 1

You are correct that fire is not matter. However, you are incorrect that fire is not energy. In fact it is precisely that. Fire is the result of a chemical reaction where oxygen bonds with a substance and produces a large ammount of energy as a result. This process is called oxidization. When you light a fire, the fuel that you are burning is oxidizing, which in turn gives of a large ammount of energy in the form of heat and light, as it gives off the heat, it causes the fuel surrounding it to be heated also so that it too begins to oxidize. Oxidization requires a lot of heat to begin, and once begun, gives off a lot of heat and light as a result. In this way of heating its surroundings, the fire grows and gives off more and more heat usuing up as much of the fuel as it can. Eventually it gives off enough heat, that the air also begins to oxidize. Even in the air, the process gives off light. So, as a result you see flames where light is being released where the air is oxidizing.

Answer 2

Combustion formula can be remembered by;
hydrogen can not oxidise sulpher.
Hydrogen carbon nitrogen oxygen sulpher
Hydrogen plus carbon or hydrocarbon is the basic stuff of all fuels.
When heated above its flash point it will ignite and cause fire,
the nitrogen takes no part in the process and really is a nuisance as it carries away heat.
Oxygen in about 14:1 ratio is needed to maintain combustion,
h2o is formed in the process and combines with the sulpher content to form h2so4 or sulphuric acid which causes the rusting of flues and your cars exhaust pipe.
To extinguish a fire you need to;
Lower the temperature.
Starve it of ogygen.
remove the fuel source.
"Any fool can burn fuel but it takes an engineer to do it efficiently"
This is from my memory, and my engineering notes,when I was at university.
hope this answers your question, but like electricity nobody really knows exactly what a flame is.

Ian.

Answer 3

Fire is glowing hot matter, produced and released by an intense exothermic reaction, traditionally combustion, in which a fuel reacts with oxygen to form a more stable compound. The flame that you see is light energy emitted by solid and gaseous (and small quantities of plasma) particles so hot that they glow.

Answer 4

Fire is the chemical reaction between whatever the fuel is and oxygen.

The heat and light you feel and see from fire is the energy side effect of the chemical reaction. The ash and smoke is the matter that remains after the chemical reaction..

Answer 5

Hi
Fire is Energy! It Burns and produces heat witch we then use in many ways (it is produced from heating matter until it com-busts and produces a gas, that will ignite.

Answer 6

Fire is the result of chemical reaction in a reduction process. What we observe as fire is micromass radiation at different frequencies.

Answer 7

it is the process of matter changing its state into energy

Answer 8

fire is end result ov destroying matter and a recycle system ov planet turns all back to C so is a recycle device

Answer 9

Fire is burning oxygen.

Answer 10

I'm afraid I don't know, but you asked this question before I did! I've been wondering that for ages.