Saturday, September 12, 2020

The complex chemistry of fire

Recommendable! We still understand very little about fire and burning! But many scientists irresponsibly and grotesquely claim they can forecast climate one hundred years into the future when we do not even understand e.g. our oceans and the sun very well.

Scientists are working on new ways to extinguish fire and more.

" ‘The simplest hydrocarbon combustion – methane and oxygen – produces hundreds of different intermediates and byproducts through hundreds of different chemical reactions occurring at different rates. Those rates depend on temperature, which changes dramatically across a flame. ... part of a flame is a dilute plasma,’ ... By creating an oscillating, highly concentrated electric field, the team were able to deflect and extinguish flames about a metre tall. ... The team were also able to use sound waves to suffocate the flame’s reaction zone by hindering convention of air to the flame"

The complex chemistry of fire | Feature | Chemistry World (unfortunately this long survey article is behind paywall) Despite its ubiquity in human life, chemists have still barely unlocked what’s happening amid the flames

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