J
JRKH
This one came up lately - -
Hydrogen is flammable
Oxygen is an excellerant
Why doesn't water burn?????????????????
James
Hydrogen is flammable
Oxygen is an excellerant
Why doesn't water burn?????????????????
James
JRKH said:This one came up lately - -
Hydrogen is flammable
Oxygen is an excellerant
Why doesn't water burn?????????????????
James
Water doesn't burn because it's already an ash. You are correct that water is made of oxygen and hydrogen, and you are also correct that hydrogen is flammable. However, oxygen is not flammable. Oxygen is an oxidizer, that is, it supports combustion. A jet of oxygen will NOT burn in air! When oxygen and hydrogen are mixed, they can chemically combine, generating lots of heat energy. When this reaction is complete, the product is water. So, water is what is created when hydrogen burns.
Richard Barrans Jr., Ph.D.
Chemical Separations Group
Chemistry Division CHM/200
Argonne National Laboratory
... and water was probably found below where each of you were standing as well. :mg:Craig H. said:After the resultant explosion, you will find water below where the balloon was.
Rob Nix said:... and water was probably found below where each of you were standing as well. :mg:
My kids and I did something similiar for their science fair years ago. We put Hydrogen Peroxide (H202) in a beaker with a little manganese from a common battery (this catalyst released the extra oxygen molecule, leaving water). Then we lit a broom straw, blew it out leaving a glowing ember, and extended it over the beaker (fffoooffff) - quite a flame!
I don't know if we could get away with that today.
(BTW - spelling: accelerant, conundrum)
Rob Nix said:... and water was probably found below where each of you were standing as well. :mg:
JRKH said:(huked on fonix werked for mee.)
Gotta love you guys though. Sounds like Halloween could be veeerrrry innntteerresting this year.
James
JRKH said:Why doesn't water burn?????????????????
James