Does Burning Material Create Ash and Smoke?

[mvan4310]

Hello,

Ive got what some can call a simple question. When an object is burning, I know the 3 things a fire needs are energy, fuel and oxygen. When the object, let's say a sheet of paper, do the oxygen atoms combine with atoms of the paper and become the ash, soot, and smoke the results? I have a basic knowledge that there is CO2 released, which I would have to go and say that O2 combine with C during that reaction, which is part of the smoke. Does the Ash contain the oxygen that was used up by the reaction as well as the smoke?

 

[jetwaterluffy]

Hello,

Ive got what some can call a simple question. When an object is burning, I know the 3 things a fire needs are energy, fuel and oxygen. When the object, let's say a sheet of paper, do the oxygen atoms combine with atoms of the paper and become the ash, soot, and smoke the results? I have a basic knowledge that there is CO2 released, which I would have to go and say that O2 combine with C during that reaction, which is part of the smoke. Does the Ash contain the oxygen that was used up by the reaction as well as the smoke?

No. The smoke and ash you can see are broken up left-over bits of carbon from the reaction. Carbon dioxide is a gas and is transparant, so you can't see it. As is water vapour, the other product of the reaction.

 

[Naty1]

Check here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire

and note some of the links like oxidation:

"Oxidation is the loss of electrons or an increase in oxidation state by a molecule, atom, or ion."

fire is a self sustaining chain reaction: rapid oxidation...in contrast to,say, rusting...which is slow.

 

[jetwaterluffy]

Check here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire

and note some of the links like oxidation:

"Oxidation is the loss of electrons or an increase in oxidation state by a molecule, atom, or ion."

fire is a self sustaining chain reaction: rapid oxidation...in contrast to,say, rusting...which is slow.

I thought fire had to include oxygen.

 

[pmacias]

Hello there,

You are correct in your understanding that a fire requires energy, fuel, and oxygen to burn. When an object, such as a sheet of paper, is burning, the oxygen atoms in the air combine with the atoms of the paper, releasing energy in the form of heat and light. This process is called combustion.

During combustion, the oxygen atoms combine with the carbon atoms in the paper to form carbon dioxide (CO2) gas, which is released into the air. The smoke that is produced during a fire also contains other gases and particles, such as carbon monoxide, water vapor, and ash. The ash is made up of the remaining solid materials that did not burn completely, including some of the carbon and other elements from the paper.

So, to answer your question, the ash does contain some of the oxygen that was used up during the combustion process, but it also contains other elements from the paper. The smoke, on the other hand, is primarily made up of carbon dioxide and other gases that were released from the burning paper. I hope this helps to clarify your understanding of burning materials. Keep asking questions and exploring the world around you!