MadSci Network: Physics
Query:

Re: If fire has mass, could it freeze over?

Date: Fri Sep 8 21:30:42 2000
Posted By: Greg Culler, Staff, Mechanical Engineer, Industry
Area of science: Physics
ID: 968356688.Ph
Message:

Hello Daniel

This is an excellent question!  The simple answer is no.  At least not in 
any way that would be recognizable as "frozen fire."   Fire is basically an 
oxidation or conversion process in which the chemical energy stored in the 
burning material is released as light, heat, and the products of 
inefficient combustion, such as vapors and particulates.  Fire requires 
three items in order to occur; these items are fuel, oxygen, and heat.  If 
any one of these item are removed, the fire will go out.  So by definition, 
if we remove the heat from the fire, the fire will go out.  
The mass of the fire is basically the byproducts of combustion and if the 
heat of the fire were instantaneously removed, these vapors could be frozen 
and collected as "frozen fire."


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