What is fire?

[stone_mound_camaro]

Hey... Anybody got an idea what state of matter fire is?

[Jet-Lee]

Plasma, I believe

[2.2 Straight six]

isn't it just energy? just heat light and sound energy.

[mike@af]

Fire is burning gases composed of glowing particles suspended in the flame. The gases have to have a particle in them that will burn, like methane for instance. The particles are in the excited state where they have an abundant level of energy which causes them to produce light and heat. There are also chemical reactions occuring that fuel the fire so to speak.

[Jet-Lee]

Originally Posted by GTmike400

Fire is burning gases composed of glowing particles suspended in the flame. The gases have to have a particle in them that will burn, like methane for instance. The particles are in the excited state where they have an abundant level of energy which causes them to produce light and heat. There are also chemical reactions occuring that fuel the fire so to speak.

Thanks for that, but you still didn't answer the question.

[mike@af]

Originally Posted by Jet-Lee

Thanks for that, but you still didn't answer the question.

Yes I did...gas. Unless its a super heated flame (usually induced my an electrical arc), then it becomes plasma.

[Jet-Lee]

Originally Posted by GTmike400

Yes I did...gas. Unless its a super heated flame (usually induced my an electrical arc), then it becomes plasma.

You said fire is burning gases. Those gases already have a name, so their lone elements. Fire is the reaction of the gases burning. What state is the fire?

I think fire isn't a state, because it's not matter. Fire is like light, not matter but a reaction between elements.

[Jet-Lee]

http://chemistry.about.com/od/chemis...echemistry.htm

Originally Posted by From Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.,

Q. What is the State of Matter of Fire or Flame? Is it a Liquid, Solid, or Gas?
A. The ancient Greeks and alchemists thought that fire was an element. They also considered earth, air, and water to be elements. However, the modern definition of an element defines it by the number of protons a pure substance possesses. Fire is made up of many different substances, so it is not an element.
For the most part, fire is a mixture of hot gases. Flames are the result of a chemical reaction, primarily between oxygen in air and a fuel, such as wood or propane. In addition to other products, the reaction produces carbon dioxide, steam, light, and heat. If the flame is hot enough, the gases are ionized and become yet another state of matter: plasma.

So it's a non-element, with the possibility of being a Plasma.

[highteknology]

could you say that fire is a combustion state? i don't even know if combustion is a state i was never really good in chemistry or anything. i just like playing with fire.

[Jet-Lee]

Read my previous post, then this one
http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasma_%28physics%29

Plasma is a state of matter where the bonds between parts of the atoms are broken and the pieces, electrons and nuclei separate. Even though they separate from one another, the electrons and nuclei still pull on each other because of their electric charge. This keeps them from getting too far apart, so the plasma stays together. Because the bonds are broken, the electrons can flow and move, so there are many interesting kinds of waves that can travel in a plasma, especially if there is a magnetic field in it. Magnetic fields make free electrons move in circles, and electric fields make them move in straight lines. Putting both kinds of fields into a plasma makes the electrons and nuclei do very complicated things.

Plasmas are usually very hot, because it takes high temperature to break the bonds between the electrons and the nuclei. Sometimes plasmas can have very high pressure, like in stars. Stars (including our own Sun) are mostly made of plasma. Plasmas can also have very low pressure, like in outer space.

On Earth, natural plasma makes lightning and auroras. Artificial (man-made) uses of plasma include fluorescent lightbulbs, "neon" signs, and plasma displays used for television or computer screens. Scientists are experimenting with plasma to make a new kind of nuclear power, called fusion, which would be much better and safer than ordinary nuclear power, and would produce much less radioactive waste—maybe none at all!

[wickedblack]

I belive that fire is a gas. And yes it does turn to a plasma when used in welding. My father is a pipeline and all steel welder. So I do know a bit about fire and i'm a bit of a fire bug so ya.

[Heep]

Fire

[wickedblack]

Originally Posted by Heep

Fire

I think we have established that.

Fire is the active principle of burning, Characterized by the heat and light of combustion. ( ain't i smart i can read from that there dictionary ) So it must be a gas that reacts to chemicals or combustion. WEEEE!!!!

[tazdev]

fire is a change of state more than it is a state on its own.

[ericn1300]

Originally Posted by tazdev

fire is a change of state more than it is a state on its own.

exactly, fire is just one of the observable actions of change of state in matter. ever notice ice or snow changing state from solid to gas thru sublimination and skipping the liquid state? it's obserable by the fog of vapors, or gases, produced during the process. fire is the action of changing the state of matter rapidly from solid to gas. the ashes left behind are the inert matter unaffected by the change.