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Topic: Why doesn't water burn?  (Read 58978 times)

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Offline xiankai

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Re:Why doesn't water burn?
« Reply #30 on: June 29, 2005, 05:42:35 AM »
water can actually burn, but in the presence of the right oxidiser. at least in theory that is. of course u cant burn water in oxygen.

and if water burns... aliens that we do not wish to contemplate will live on earth instead :P
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Offline tortoise

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Re:Why doesn't water burn?
« Reply #31 on: June 30, 2005, 08:28:59 AM »
you mean water can burn in the air?
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Offline Mitch

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Re:Why doesn't water burn?
« Reply #32 on: June 30, 2005, 01:10:33 PM »
If we define burning as the abillity to undergoe combustion, then water can not undergoe combustion and can not be burned. Could it be oxidized? Perhaps in the presence of a good oxidizer.
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Offline jdurg

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Re:Why doesn't water burn?
« Reply #33 on: June 30, 2005, 03:02:54 PM »
Again, that all depends on your definition of 'combustion'.  As I know that steel wool can combust in an atmosphere of chlorine gas.  (Here's where sematnics becomes a real pain in the ass when trying to define something).   ;)

To really sum it up:

If you define 'combustion' as a chemical reacion with oxygen, then no, water cannot combust/burn.

If you define 'combusion' as a chemical reaction with a strong oxidizer, then yes, water can combust/burn.

 ;D
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Offline tortoise

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Re:Why doesn't water burn?
« Reply #34 on: July 17, 2005, 10:50:20 PM »
Hi again  :)

I receive an answer to the question "Does water burn?" :

Quote
Water - I would say that it does burn. In fact when cooking and the boiling water in a pot overflows, the flame turns yellow (a sooty/carbon flame) meaning that it is being burned.
Also (this is a trick answer) if water is hot and you pour it onto your hand it burns you ;)


Is it right? What do you think?
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Offline Mitch

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Re:Why doesn't water burn?
« Reply #35 on: July 17, 2005, 10:53:39 PM »
It is so wrong it hurts my brain. If you put liquid nitrogen on your hand it burns too, it doesn't mean it is burning! The rate of heat transfer is meaningless.
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Offline xiankai

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Re:Why doesn't water burn?
« Reply #36 on: July 18, 2005, 08:26:15 AM »
burning is a chemical process. the key word is "you". obiviously water isnt the one being burned :P

the part about spilling boiling water on a flame is familar; i've tried it before in my younger days. i think its more accurate that water is vapourised into steam, the flame becomes yellow as it has combusted something.
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Offline jdurg

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Re:Why doesn't water burn?
« Reply #37 on: July 18, 2005, 02:12:18 PM »
The flame turns yellow because sodium ions tend to contaminate EVERYTHING and sodium ions emit a yellow color when excited in a flame.
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Offline tortoise

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Re:Why doesn't water burn?
« Reply #38 on: July 20, 2005, 09:54:35 AM »
Quote
Weter does burn. In fact when cooking and the boiling water in a pot overflows, the flame turns yellow (a sooty/carbon flame) meaning that it is being burned.

Please check it.
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Offline Donaldson Tan

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Re:Why doesn't water burn?
« Reply #39 on: July 23, 2005, 10:49:52 AM »
water doesn't burn because water is a product of complete combustion
« Last Edit: August 07, 2005, 07:11:49 PM by geodome »
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Offline jdurg

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Re:Why doesn't water burn?
« Reply #40 on: July 23, 2005, 07:49:34 PM »
Quote from: geodome on July 23, 2005, 10:49:52 AM
water doesn't burn because water is combustion product.

So is carbon monoxide, but CO can burn.   ;)
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Element_X

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Re:Why doesn't water burn?
« Reply #41 on: March 16, 2006, 04:49:15 PM »
IF H²O could burn you probably get water
Or am i talk b*llsh*t again ???
« Last Edit: March 16, 2006, 04:51:06 PM by Element_X »
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Offline green-goblin

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Re:Why doesn't water burn?
« Reply #42 on: March 22, 2006, 06:20:57 AM »
Now that was an interesting read! I'm going to go and convert my car to water :D
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Offline P

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Re:Why doesn't water burn?
« Reply #43 on: March 22, 2006, 07:36:54 AM »
Quote from: jdurg on July 23, 2005, 07:49:34 PM
So is carbon monoxide, but CO can burn.   ;)

He said that water is the product of 'COMPLETE' Combustion  -  CO is not 'complete' but partial.  CO2 is complete and does not burn.


So..    are we all now certain that water doesn't burn  (in the conventional sense)? ;D :D ???

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Offline jdurg

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Re:Why doesn't water burn?
« Reply #44 on: March 22, 2006, 11:13:38 AM »
Quote from: P on March 22, 2006, 07:36:54 AM
He said that water is the product of 'COMPLETE' Combustion  -  CO is not 'complete' but partial.  CO2 is complete and does not burn.


So..    are we all now certain that water doesn't burn  (in the conventional sense)? ;D :D ???



Yeah, that was after he edited his original post.  Hence my 'wink' face.   ;D

And yes, I agree that in the conventional sense water does not burn.  (Convential Sense are the important words there).   ;D
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