- #1
Garvit Goel
- 13
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in spite of the presence of hydrogen (a combustible substance),water is incombustible.
why is this so??
why is this so??
ZealScience said:Hydrogen burns with oxygen to form water. And it will not burn again! What can water burn into? H2O2? not quite possible...
Garvit Goel said:why not??
Water is incombustible because it is made up of two elements, hydrogen and oxygen, that are strongly bonded together in a stable molecule. This means that the energy required to separate these elements and initiate a combustion reaction is extremely high, making water resistant to burning.
No, water cannot be burned because it lacks the necessary components for combustion. In order for a substance to burn, it needs to have the ability to react with oxygen, which water does not possess. Therefore, water does not undergo a chemical change when exposed to heat or flame.
Water is used to put out fires because it has a high heat capacity, meaning it can absorb a large amount of heat before its temperature rises significantly. When water is sprayed onto a fire, it absorbs the heat from the flames, cooling them down and reducing the temperature of the surrounding area, making it difficult for the fire to continue burning.
Water is a good fire extinguisher because it is readily available, inexpensive, and highly effective at cooling and smothering fires. It also does not leave behind any harmful residue or chemicals after use. However, it should not be used to extinguish all types of fires, such as those involving electrical equipment or flammable liquids.
While water is generally considered incombustible, there are some rare exceptions. Under certain extreme conditions, such as in the presence of powerful oxidizing agents or at very high temperatures, water can decompose into its component elements and become combustible. However, these conditions are not commonly encountered in everyday life.