Making it an accelerant, if I understand correctly.
I can't answer that one. My high school chem was all theory.
Carrying Oxygen
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Making it an accelerant, if I understand correctly.
I can't answer that one. My high school chem was all theory.
* Combustion is the reaction of a fuel with an oxidising agent. In the case being discussed:
(bunch of organic stuff with lots of carbon and hydrogen) + O2 --> CO2 + H2O + extra energy
* Oxygen is not a catalyst. If it was a catalyst, it would not be consumed by the reaction, i.e. molecular oxygen in --> molecular oxygen out. We wouldn't represent it in a chemical equation in either the product or reactant side.
* Normal air is 21% oxygen, and most of the remainder is relatively inert nitrogen. If we increase the concentration of oxygen in the surrounding environment, the rate of the combustion reaction will increase as [reactants] >>> [products]s. This will manifest as a greater rate of energy generation, more ionisation of gaseous compounds, and more vigorous emission of energy as heat and light.
* What you've probably seen in your chemistry class is a wooden splint, that's been set on fire, and then partially extinguished, so that only some smoldering embers remain. This represents a reaction where the rate of energy generation is fairly low, hence we don't see bright flames. If we then pass 100% oxygen over the smoldering wooden splint, we drive the reaction to the right, increase the rate of energy generation, and cause flames to appear again. This causes the splint to "reignite", if you will.
* This has obvious applications in the home O2 patient that lights a cigarette while wearing a nasal cannula. The cigarette that normally smolders, reacts more vigorously, resulting in facial burns.
* I wouldn't want to carry any compressed gas in my personal vehicle, as heat can cause a pressurised vessel to explode. I definitely wouldn't want to carry oxygen for the additional risk of fire should I crash and the tank be damaged. Something that may smolder in 21% oxygen, may well ignite rapidly in concentrations close to 100% --- vehicle fuel already ignites very
well at 21% oxygen -- I have no need to see what happens at 100%.
(bunch of organic stuff with lots of carbon and hydrogen) + O2 --> CO2 + H2O + extra energy
* Oxygen is not a catalyst. If it was a catalyst, it would not be consumed by the reaction, i.e. molecular oxygen in --> molecular oxygen out. We wouldn't represent it in a chemical equation in either the product or reactant side.
* Normal air is 21% oxygen, and most of the remainder is relatively inert nitrogen. If we increase the concentration of oxygen in the surrounding environment, the rate of the combustion reaction will increase as [reactants] >>> [products]s. This will manifest as a greater rate of energy generation, more ionisation of gaseous compounds, and more vigorous emission of energy as heat and light.
* What you've probably seen in your chemistry class is a wooden splint, that's been set on fire, and then partially extinguished, so that only some smoldering embers remain. This represents a reaction where the rate of energy generation is fairly low, hence we don't see bright flames. If we then pass 100% oxygen over the smoldering wooden splint, we drive the reaction to the right, increase the rate of energy generation, and cause flames to appear again. This causes the splint to "reignite", if you will.
* This has obvious applications in the home O2 patient that lights a cigarette while wearing a nasal cannula. The cigarette that normally smolders, reacts more vigorously, resulting in facial burns.
* I wouldn't want to carry any compressed gas in my personal vehicle, as heat can cause a pressurised vessel to explode. I definitely wouldn't want to carry oxygen for the additional risk of fire should I crash and the tank be damaged. Something that may smolder in 21% oxygen, may well ignite rapidly in concentrations close to 100% --- vehicle fuel already ignites very
well at 21% oxygen -- I have no need to see what happens at 100%.
I think everyone is just hung up on definitions.
Yes, for combustion to occur you need fuel + oxidizing agent (oxygen in this case). So by convention the fuel is said to burn, hence why oxygen is not a flammable gas. It is a strong oxidizer though so still dangerous around fuels and thus dangerous to keep stored in a vehicle.
Bullets
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For the record, the DOT placard for O2 specifically says "Non-flamable gas"
And when i first got into EMS i went out and got a dynamed first responder bag, stocked it full of all kinds of goodies in the hopes i would come across some MVC and be the newspaper hero. Now i have a simple 5x9 molle pouch in my glove box that has enough wound care to fix any minor injuries i might sustain out and about. I replaced my POV bag with a bailout bag that keeps a change of clothes, multi tool, ect
And when i first got into EMS i went out and got a dynamed first responder bag, stocked it full of all kinds of goodies in the hopes i would come across some MVC and be the newspaper hero. Now i have a simple 5x9 molle pouch in my glove box that has enough wound care to fix any minor injuries i might sustain out and about. I replaced my POV bag with a bailout bag that keeps a change of clothes, multi tool, ect
