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Topic: What does fire accomplish, if anything, that heat does not?  (Read 5097 times)

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Offline nj_bartel

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What does fire accomplish, if anything, that heat does not?
« on: July 30, 2009, 08:32:20 PM »
For example, if you have a flame that burns pretty low, say 200 oC and you have a heat source that heats to 200 oC, is that flame going to be able to accomplish something that that heat source cannot?  Why?
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Offline Agent-X

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Re: What does fire accomplish, if anything, that heat does not?
« Reply #1 on: July 31, 2009, 01:46:56 AM »
Maybe add CO2?
The fuel will break down to CO2 and H2O.
The CO2 might eventually deposit carbon on a surface.

A flame is more direct than an electric plate.
Also, I wouldn't use electric heat for a test tube.
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Offline 408

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Re: What does fire accomplish, if anything, that heat does not?
« Reply #2 on: July 31, 2009, 01:52:51 AM »
Initiation of radical reactions.

But if you mean for heating a flask, they are the same.
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Offline nj_bartel

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Re: What does fire accomplish, if anything, that heat does not?
« Reply #3 on: July 31, 2009, 02:00:39 AM »
Got it, thanks.  Didn't realize fire involved radical formation  :)
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Offline DrCMS

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Re: What does fire accomplish, if anything, that heat does not?
« Reply #4 on: July 31, 2009, 05:54:21 AM »
Quote from: nj_bartel on July 31, 2009, 02:00:39 AM
Didn't realize fire involved radical formation 

It does and that explains why powder and halon fire extinguishers are so efficient; they are radical scavengers and stop the fire chemistry rather than just removing oxygen.
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Offline typhoon2028

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Re: What does fire accomplish, if anything, that heat does not?
« Reply #5 on: July 31, 2009, 08:14:28 AM »
It is possible to have a flame at 200C?
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Offline nj_bartel

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Re: What does fire accomplish, if anything, that heat does not?
« Reply #6 on: July 31, 2009, 11:40:05 AM »
Quote from: DrCMS on July 31, 2009, 05:54:21 AM
Quote from: nj_bartel on July 31, 2009, 02:00:39 AM
Didn't realize fire involved radical formation 

It does and that explains why powder and halon fire extinguishers are so efficient; they are radical scavengers and stop the fire chemistry rather than just removing oxygen.

Cool stuff, love real world apps  :P


I believe naptha burns somewhere around there
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