How and Why Things Burn

Now that you've seen the information on the fire triangle and the stages of burning, and thought about it, you're ready for...

How and Why Things Burn

Activity: Thinking About Combustion

Questions

  1. Water is often used to put out a fire. Using the combustion triangle, why should this work?
  2. You're frying catfish in a pan on the stove and turn your back for just a moment The fish and oil in the pan catches fire. Will placing the lid on the pan put the fire out? Explain using the combustion triangle.
  3. Explain the molecular scale changes (or stages) that take place when your pan of catfish catches fire.
  4. Explain the macro scale changes (or stages) that you would observe when your pan of catfish catches fire.
  5. It has been stated that wood going to the combustion products of carbon dioxide and water is thermodynamically favorable. What does this mean? Why is this true?
  6. If wood going to the combustion products of carbon dioxide and water is thermodynamically favorable, why doesn't wood spontaneously catch fire?

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