Eli5: If fire is not plasma, what is it?

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Just read somewhere that fire is unique to earth, I don’t understand

In: Chemistry

8 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

Ions. Fire can ionize the air surrounding it. When a substance burns, it releases energy in the form of heat and light. This energy can be intense enough to strip electrons from the atoms in the air, creating charged particles known as ions. This process is called ionization. The presence of ions can affect the behavior of the surrounding air, and can also contribute to the color and behavior of the flames.

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