What is fire? (2024)

Reaction that converts fuel and oxygen into carbon dioxide and water

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What is fire? (1)

Fire is a chemical reaction that converts a fuel and oxygen into carbon dioxide and water. It is an exothermic reaction, in other words, one that produces heat. This is due to the fact that the chemical bonds in the oxygen molecule are fairly weak and the new bonds produced are more stable – thus there is a net production of energy.

Fire’s basic combustion equation is: fuel + oxygen —> carbon dioxide + water, a line many of us had drummed into us by school teachers. However, combustion reactions do not proceed directly from oxygen to carbon dioxide. Instead, a welter of intermediate molecules are involved along the way. Sometimes incomplete combustion occurs, and these intermediate molecules are produced in unusually large quantities. For example, if a flame does not get enough oxygen it can produce carbon monoxide instead of carbon dioxide.

Flames occur when two gases react, producing both heat and light. When different gases react, they produce different amounts of energy, causing some flames to burn at a higher temperature than others. The flame of a household candle, for instance, will reach between 800°C and 1000°C . A flame can be made to burn at a higher temperature by adjusting the reaction, for example using pure oxygen instead of air. Burning a mix of oxygen and acetylene, or oxy-acetylene, will produce a flame that burns at over 3000°C and can be used to cut, melt and weld metals.

We still don’t fully understand each step in the process or all the intermediate molecules involved – and of course these vary depending on the fuel too. This is one reason why we have begun studying fire in space; it is easier to study the finer points of combustion without the complicating effects of gravity.

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What is fire? (2024)

FAQs

What is fire in simple answer? ›

Fire is the visible effect of the process of combustion – a special type of chemical reaction. It occurs between oxygen in the air and some sort of fuel. The products from the chemical reaction are completely different from the starting material.

What is fire made of? ›

Oxygen, heat, and fuel are frequently referred to as the "fire triangle." Add in the fourth element, the chemical reaction, and you actually have a fire "tetrahedron." The important thing to remember is: take any of these four things away, and you will not have a fire or the fire will be extinguished.

What is the simplest definition of fire? ›

noun. a state, process, or instance of combustion in which fuel or other material is ignited and combined with oxygen, giving off light, heat, and flame. a burning mass of material, as on a hearth or in a furnace. the destructive burning of a building, town, forest, etc.; conflagration.

What state of matter is fire? ›

Fire is a plasma, not a gas or a solid. It's a kind of transient state between being composed of the elements prior to ignition and the spent fumes (Smoke - solid particles and Gasses = Gas molecules.)

How can I explain fire? ›

Fire is the rapid oxidation of a material (the fuel) in the exothermic chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction products.

What is the meaning of fire 🔥? ›

: the light and heat and especially the flame produced by burning. 2. : eager liveliness : enthusiasm. 3. : fuel that is burning (as in a fireplace or stove)

How was fire created? ›

The chemical reaction of oxygen and a fuel source we know as fire has been around as long as oxygen and sources of fuel have been around. In other words, fire has been around for millions of years. It's a natural reaction that fire didn't need to be invented.

What are the 4 stages of a fire? ›

It is essential to understand and be able to identify the different stages of a fire. This knowledge is not only crucial for effective fire suppression but also for ensuring your safety. Fires undergo four main stages: incipient, growth, fully developed, and decay. Each phase has distinct characteristics and dangers.

Is fire matter or energy? ›

Since matter can be defined as “anything which occupies space and has mass or weight”, we can say that fire is a 'matter' because it occupies space and since it is a mixture of gases, it must have some mass.

What classifies a fire? ›

The 5 main classes of fires are categorized by what caused the fire or what the fire uses as fuel, and are as follows: Class A: solid materials such as wood or paper, fabric, and some plastics. Class B: liquids or gas such as alcohol, ether, gasoline, or grease.

What makes a fire a fire? ›

Fire occurs whenever combustible fuel in the presence of oxygen at an extremely high temperature becomes gas. Flames are the visual indicator of the heated gas. Fire can also occur from lower-temperature sources. Over time, combustible materials such as smoldering embers can reach their ignition temperature.

What is the science behind fire? ›

A fire itself is the result of a chemical reaction known as combustion, where fuel and oxygen react with one another and atoms rearrange themselves irreversibly. For this to occur, fuel must reach its ignition temperature, and combustion will continue if there is enough fuel, heat and oxygen.

What is fire chemically? ›

Fire is a chemical chain reaction which takes place with the evolution of heat and light. In order for a fire to take place there are 3 main ingredients that must be present: Oxygen, Heat and Fuel. In chemistry we call the type of reaction that produces fire a combustion reaction.

Is fire alive or not? ›

People sometimes think fire is living because it consumes and uses energy, requires oxygen, and moves through the environment. Fire is actually non-living. A reason why is it cannot eat or breath. Fire can spread quickly and burn.

What is fire simple for kids? ›

Fire occurs when heat and oxygen mix with a fuel source, creating a chemical reaction, which blazes with flames. Although fires can be useful if controlled, they are dangerous for humans if safety precautions are not taken. Adults are the only people who should start or extinguish fires.

What is fire in your own words? ›

Fire, simply put, is a chemical process of combustion involving the oxidation of a fuel source at a high temperature. It releases energy and produces heat and light. Flames are produced following the chemical reaction between oxygen and another gas.

What is fire short summary? ›

fire, Rapid burning of combustible material, producing heat and usually accompanied by flame. For eons, lightning was the only source of fire. The earliest controlled use of fire seems to date to c.

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