Question

Write scientific reason:
Hydrogen is combustible, oxygen helps combustion, but water helps to extinguish fire.

Answer 1

Combustion is the process where a substance burns in presence of oxygen, giving off heat and light in the process. Moreover, there are various types of combustions i.e. complete combustion and incomplete combustion. So, to solve this question, we need to know about combustion and combustible substances.

Complete step by step answer:
First of all, let’s discuss combustion. It is basically the scientific word that burns. During a combustion reaction, the material reacts with oxygen from the air and contributes energy to the atmosphere as light and heat.
Moreover, hydrogen combustion induces complex chain reactions which involves the collision of nitrogen and oxygen atoms with oxygen and hydrogen molecules respectively to create hydroxyl radicals. Further, the final product of the reaction is gas which is formed by a mixture of hydroxyl and hydrogen molecules.
Now, as we know that water is made up of two molecules i.e. hydrogen and oxygen. Hydrogen is flammable but oxygen is not. Flammability is basically the ability of a combustible material with an adequate supply of oxygen to sustain enough heat energy to keep a fire going after it has been ignited. But water has its own properties which helps to extinguish fire. In simple words we can say that hydrogen and oxygen help combustion but their compounds (like water) reduce combustion.

Note: The burning of a material or object by the accelerated oxidation of its own materials without heat from any external source is known as spontaneous combustion. For example, phosphorus and Sulphur continue to burn instantaneously at room temperature.