We explain everything about fire, how it is produced and the components it has. Also, what are its characteristics and what is it used for.
Fire is a set of incandescent gases that give off energy.
What is fire?
Fire is the set of incandescent particles of combustible matter that, due to a chemical reaction of violent oxidation (known as combustion), release caloric energy (heat) and light.
Combustion is a chemical oxidation reaction fairly rapid that occurs between a combustible material (material capable of releasing energy when oxidized) and an oxidizer (material that oxidizes another substance). It is an exothermic reaction, that is, it releases energy.
Some combustible materials are wood, coal and gasoline, and some oxidizing materials are oxygen (O2), ozone (O3) and fluorine (F2). When a combustible material such as wood is burned, ash, carbon dioxide (CO2), light and other waste are produced.
Flames are the parts of fire that emit light. Smoke, on the other hand, is composed of the same physical particles, but they do not emit light.
How was the fire discovered and controlled?
According to archaeological evidence and research, it is estimated that the fire was discovered by the Homo Erectus 500,000 BC C. (years before Christ).
The discovery of the fire is believed to have occurred accidentally.that is, the first contact of human beings with fire was as a result of lightning in a storm, a volcano or some other natural phenomenon.
An event that implied an important mark in the evolution and history of humanity was the control of fire by humans. Humans managed to implement techniques that allowed them to generate, maintain and control fire..
According to research, fire was originally carried by humans using torches from the place where it was produced due to some natural event to the place where it was to be used. This had the disadvantage of extinguishing the fire.
Then, attempts were made to produce fire, an objective that was achieved. by striking two stones together to create a spark or rubbing wooden sticks together to generate heat. With the passage of time, fire has been studied, as well as the techniques to control its expansion and to maintain it for long periods of time.
Throughout history, fire was used to heat places, for cooking, for lighting, for industrial production, among many other uses.
How does fire occur?
Fire can occur as a result of many everyday events. Some are accidental, such as lightning striking combustible material or a gas pipe exploding, while others are man-made, such as lighting a match.
Regardless of the situation, for fire to occur, a chain reaction of three fundamental components is necessary in the right proportions:
- Fuel. Combustible matter is that which can be subjected to combustion processes, that is, violent and rapid oxidation. When a combustible substance is oxidized, the products of the reaction are carbon dioxide, heat and another substance, which will depend on the type of fuel oxidized. Fuels can exist in liquid, solid or gaseous state. For example: coal and wood are solid fuels, diesel and gasoline are liquid fuels, and natural gas and liquefied petroleum gases are gaseous fuels.
- Oxidant. Oxidizing matter is that which oxidizes other substances. For example: oxygen (O2), ozone (O3), fluorine (F2) and chlorine (Cl2).
- Heat. For combustion to occur, a minimum amount of activation energy is required, which initiates the reaction between the fuel and the oxidiser, generating the fire. This heat energy can come from the flames of a smaller fire, from certain chemical reactions, from sparks from an electrical source or it can even be generated as a result of impacts or friction between two materials (as occurs with matches).
For fire to occur and be sustained, there must be an initial source of heat that makes part of the fuel react with part of the oxidizer.. The fire generated in this initial reaction will cause other parts of the fuel and oxidizer to react later, producing more fire, which in turn will continue this reaction. Thus, a chain reaction occurs until at least one of the substances is used up.
Components of fire
Fire can be differentiated into components such as:
- Flames or flames. They are a set of incandescent gases that are released during combustion. They can reach a temperature of 1700 °C. The colour of the flames can give an idea of the fuel that is burning. For example: blue flame (alcohol), red flame (flammable liquids) and white flame (different metals).
- Smoke. Smoke is the set of particles produced as a result of incomplete combustion, that is, they are particles that have not been completely burned. These particles are suspended and carried by the different air currents. The color of the smoke can provide information about the type of fuel that is burning. For example: white smoke (vegetable fuel) and black smoke (fuel derived from petroleum).
- Gases. They are chemical compounds that are produced as a result of combustion. Some can be colorless, toxic, and even fatal if inhaled in certain doses. The gases are released along with the smoke. Some of the gases released during combustion are: carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and hydrogen cyanide (HCN).
- Heat. It is the form of energy that is transferred due to a temperature difference. Fire is composed of energy in the form of light and heat, since it is the result of an exothermic reaction (reaction that releases energy).
Types of fire
Materials that produce type A fire leave embers when burned.
Fire is generally classified according to the nature of the combustible substance:
- Type A fires (solids). Fires produced by the burning of flammable materials that form embers, generally of organic origin. For example: wood, fabrics, paper and certain types of plastic.
- Type B fires (liquids). They are fires produced by the combustion of flammable liquids. For example: petroleum, gasoline, alcohol, certain paints, certain solvents, among others.
- Type C fires (gases). They are fires produced by the combustion of flammable gases. For example: methane, natural gas, hydrogen, propane, among others.
- Type D fires (metals). They are fires produced by certain metallic elements that react violently when mixed with water or other substances. For example: lithium and sodium that react violently with water.
- Type E fires (electricity). They are fires produced due to short circuits or overheating of electrical installations or electrical equipment. This type of fire also includes fires caused by other factors, but that occur in the presence of electric current.
- Type F fires (fats and oils). These are fires caused by the combustion of fats and oils that are mainly used in kitchens.
Fire extinguishers
Fire extinguishing agents are chemical products that extinguish fire by acting on one or more of the components of the fire tetrahedron. Fire extinguishers are used in case of fires. A fire is an uncontrolled fire that can burn something that should not burn.
Fire extinguishers are classified according to the type of fire they can put out:
- Fire extinguisher A. It is used to extinguish class A fires. It uses water.
- AB fire extinguisher. It is used to extinguish class A and B fires. You can use water spray or foam.
- ABC fire extinguisher. It is used to extinguish class A, B, C and electrical fires. It uses powder or carbon dioxide (CO2).
- K fire extinguisher. It is used to extinguish class E fires. It uses additives to prevent electrical conduction.
- Specific fire extinguisher for metals. It is used to extinguish class D fires.
What is fire used for?
Some of the applications of fire are:
- Heating environments. Fire is used in various heating systems, such as ovens, fireplaces and salamanders.
- Illuminate environments. In ancient times, fire was used for lighting (in candelabras, lanterns, torches, candles and bonfires).
- Cook. For thousands of years, fire has been used to carry out different types of cooking food.
- Cause controlled combustion reactionsThe spark is used to initiate the combustion reaction in combustion engines.
- Initiate or catalyze chemical reactions in laboratories. Many chemical reactions occur at a certain temperature. Fire is used to raise the temperature of the reaction vessel.
- Transform matter from one state of aggregation to another. Fire is used to raise the temperature of a material until its state of aggregation changes. For example, as the temperature of liquid water increases, it transforms into a gas.
Why is fire important?
The mastery of fire was a fundamental mark and a step forward in our civilization. Fire is involved in practically all industries developed by humans.
Thanks to the mastery of fire, we now have vehicles that run on internal combustion engines, we have heating, and we can cook and preserve our food for considerable periods of time. In addition, We can cause and control the temperature of many industrial processesOn the other hand, fire helps prevent diseases, as it can be used to incinerate infected and unused hospital supplies.
What are the risks of fire?
Uncontrolled fire can cause damage to property, animals and individuals.
Fire is a powerful and fundamental tool for humanity, but it is also a constant danger. The reactions it unleashes can easily get out of control if the necessary precautions are not taken.
When left uncontrolled, fire can cause damage to property, animals and individuals, as organic matter is susceptible to combustion. Fire wounds are difficult to heal and often leave scars or permanent deformities, in addition to being extremely painful and causing severe emotional trauma.
Fire prevention
Smoke detectors allow fire to be detected quickly.
Fires are catastrophes with a very high human, ecological and material cost, which can often be avoided. To this end, certain precautions are usually recommended:
- Keep flammable material organized and safe.
- Use fire responsibly.
- Do not throw in the