If pure hydrogen and pure oxygen are both very flammable, why is water not?

Question

If pure hydrogen and pure oxygen are both very flammable, why is water not?

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Answer 1

I’ll put it in a simpler way that somewhat ignores the chemistry of the reaction. Pure oxygen and hydrogen can be said to have a high potential energy. Like a weight lifted high above your head. When you drop the weight, it lands on the ground and has less potential energy. The weight will never be raised again unless you pick it up. The universe likes these sort of things to happen in one direction only. High energy to low energy. Likewise, oxygen and hydrogen react to make water, and water has a lower potential energy than the gasses alone. You can break them up again, but you need to “do the heavy lifting” to make it happen. 💪