Chemistry (including Biochemistry)/Fire and water

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Expert: - 1/3/2007


Question
Oxygen gives life to fire and hydrogen is highly flamable. But when the atoms of these two elements are joined together, they actually put out fire. Why is this so?
THIS IS NOT A HOMEWORK QUESTION. RACHMIEL IS MY 14 YR. OLD SON WHO NEVER STOPS ASKING QUESTIONS! Thanks


Answer
Start with this.  The result of burning hydrogen is WATER !!  Water is the result of burning (complete combustion) so it can't be burned any more.  Take gasoline, the results of burning that are carbon dioxide and water, both can be use to put out fires.  If you have complete combustion, what remains as a result of the fire, can be used to put out the fire if there is enough of it.  Now that amount varies greatly based on what the substances are.
That is the principle behind flame retardants.  When there is a fire, the flame retardant is either already "burned" or burns to form something that easily keeps the fire from spreading.

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Chemistry (non-biochemistry), environmental science, occupational health and safety, environmental regulation and management, environmental engineering, and wastewater engineering. I'm the Director of Environmental, Health, and Safety and the Director of Research at the Institute of Textile Technology.

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Chemistry (non-biochemistry), environmental science, occupational health and safety, environmental regulation and management, environmental engineering, and wastewater engineering. I'm the Director of Environmental, Health, and Safety and the Director of Research at the Institute of Textile Technology.

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PhD, MS, BS in Chemistry

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