Eli5: Why do some objects burn while others melt?
In: 6
u/Xelopheris did a good ELI5 imo, so my comment adds on his one.
– Many materials are chemically speaking already burned (even if they weren’t made by holding something in a flame): water, CO2, baking soda, chalk, glass,… So they can’t burn any furthrr.
– Things can melt before they burn. If the molecules they are made out of bind weakly to each other the melting point is low. This is why many polymers melt before they burn.
Latest Answers