Quick science question...

**vifferman** · 18th February 2005, 07:43

Depends on the flame - if there's complete combustion, then the flame is gas and heat. If it's incomplete, then there's also a small amount of solid there, in the case of a wood fire, for example. Smoke from a flame is largely very small particulates (solids) and gases.

Toothpaste? Colloidal suspension (solids evenly distributed through a liquid).

**Ramius** · 18th February 2005, 07:45

Earth, water and air are matter, Fire is not. Fire is better described as a chemical reaction. Gees, making me think before 9am is not good...

**ManDownUnder** · 18th February 2005, 07:52

Originally Posted by Motu

That's correct - if I fart in public I ask those close to me whether they would prefer apple blossom or country garden...I only have a limited range of smells,but all are excelent...in my opinion at least...

Do you take requests? I quite like that fresh baked apple pie smell with a hint of cinnamon

MAN

**Skunk** · 18th February 2005, 08:01

Fire is a gas that emits light and heat.

**MSTRS:Me** · 18th February 2005, 08:06

Originally Posted by Motu

That's correct - if I fart in public I ask those close to me whether they would prefer apple blossom or country garden...I only have a limited range of smells,but all are excelent...in my opinion at least...

Ahh...RiffRaff!! New bike - new name?

**Paul in NZ** · 18th February 2005, 08:11

Originally Posted by Skunk

Fire is a gas that emits light and heat.

No. Follow the link I placed earlier...

**bear** · 18th February 2005, 08:12

Originally Posted by onearmedbandit

Back in school we learnt that there were 3 states of matter, liquid, solid, and gas. My question (and yes I know the answer, ahh I think) is out of the 3 states mentioned which is fire, or more specific, flame. To help, think of this as an example - a piece of wood burning.

Its not a trick question, nor is it that hard. But I want to see what the general line of thought is. I asked this question back in maybe 4th form of my science teacher. I wont say anymore as it may be leading.

Isn't there another form of matter now - plasma.

My vote would be for a combination, the wood is a solid, flames are a gas, the reaction of the fire transforms the matter from one to another.

I remember the classic example of solid/liquid/gas given at school was water.

**thehollowmen** · 18th February 2005, 08:24

Originally Posted by bear

Isn't there another form of matter now - plasma.

My vote would be for a combination, the wood is a solid, flames are a gas, the reaction of the fire transforms the matter from one to another.

I remember the classic example of solid/liquid/gas given at school was water.

In fire, what is usually burning is usually gas... (the evaporated in the form of hydrocarbons) It is possible to pipe off this gas and burn it elsewhere... (They did this to make coal-gas)

plasma is oooold school

there are now 5 forms of matter (in order of getting hotter) : Bose-Einstein Condensates, Solids, Liquids, Gas, and Plasma :-D

(read all about it here: http://www.visionlearning.com/librar...20&l=&let1=Che )

And I think Otago was the first university to play with Bose-Einstein Condensates.

**Blakamin** · 18th February 2005, 08:41

Originally Posted by thehollowmen

Bose-Einstein Condensates.

is that when you pour e=mc2 on top of your german stereo???

**ManDownUnder** · 18th February 2005, 08:51

Originally Posted by Blakamin

is that when you pour e=mc2 on top of your german stereo???

I think it's when you spill Eistein's beer on his stereo... either way it can't be a good thing

**Slingshot** · 18th February 2005, 09:20

Originally Posted by Slipstream

I know that Gas doesn't actually smell. They put the smell into it so you know if there's been a leak.

As for you fire question.....huh?

That's true for LPG...but other gases do smell...in fact, one that I produced this morning was quite pungent.

**duckman** · 18th February 2005, 09:22

Your all wrong of course .....

Unless we ALL see the burning piece of wood and the flames it produced then it never existed and never happened....

Of course if we DID ALL see it then it was probably a figment of our imagination.

**ManDownUnder** · 18th February 2005, 09:26

Originally Posted by duckman

Your all wrong of course .....

Unless we ALL see the burning piece of wood and the flames it produced then it never existed and never happened....

Of course if we DID ALL see it then it was probably a figment of our imagination.

So that's exitstentialism meets some other theorist I never met...

*shudder*