Ask a Teacher
DUE TO THE PRESENSE OF OXYGEN BURNS WHY? |
Oxygen is not a fuel. Flames, fire and all related chemical reactions are a result of a fuel being oxidized, or being combined with oxygen. The application of oxygen to a burning fuel will cause the fire to burn much more vigorously, as well as hotter. Oxygen, by itself, will not burn. If it did, our atmosphere (which is 20.9% oxygen) would have burned up a long time ago. Oxygen is mixed with a number of different fuel sources to get a faster, hotter burn. Acetylene, used in metal cutting torches, is mixed with oxygen to get a super hot flame that will quickly cut through metal. |