So specifically I’m interested in gas vs diesel, but I would love to learn further about the specific property that determines this. It’s obvious that an explosion occurs when pressure builds up, and when gas ignites, it propels outwards and expands, but why isn’t diesel like that? Why isn’t every flammable gas explosive in nature?
In: Chemistry
A number of answers are missing the point that what is exploding is not gasoline itself but a gasoline + air **mixture**. Of a certain range of concentration which is why it’s dependent on the flashpoint. Fill a container with pure gasoline vapour and nothing will happen when you set off a spark because there is no air. Fill it with air with a trace of gasoline vapour and nothing will happen either because the molecules are too spread out for the oxidation of one to affect others. Like all fires, even explosive ones depend on the triangle of fuel – oxygen – heat reduce one below a certain level and the fire isn’t sustained. The difference between gasoline and diesel is that the former is easier to get to a suitable concentration
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