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Topic: Why does Oxygen burn?  (Read 3766 times)

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njgrl2

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Why does Oxygen burn?
« on: March 29, 2006, 05:32:52 PM »
ok so i know that oxygen burns....and i know many of the properties of oxygen, but i cant seem to figure out a simple explanation to why it burns. thanks  :D

~Katie
« Last Edit: March 29, 2006, 08:58:04 PM by Mitch »

Offline Mitch

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Re:oxygen
« Reply #1 on: March 29, 2006, 08:57:34 PM »
It could be because it's simply a good oxidizer?
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UkraineWithAim

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Re:Why does Oxygen burn?
« Reply #2 on: March 30, 2006, 04:11:57 AM »
ok so i know that oxygen burns....and i know many of the properties of oxygen, but i cant seem to figure out a simple explanation to why it burns. thanks  :D

~Katie
As far, as I understand, burning is considered to be a process of oxidation, and if oxygen burns, it gets oxidised. It is very hard to oxidise it though, and the only way is by fluorine:
O2+2F2=2OF2,
which is a slow process.
Other substances, however, burn in Oxygen because it is such a good oxidising agent.

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