why do rags soaked in oil-based chemicals spontaneously catch on fire without being exposed to a flame?
In: Chemistry
Certain oils will undergo oxidation when exposed to air, this is an exothermic reaction, meaning as it goes along it releases energy. This heat energy can build up in trash cans enough to the point that it reaches the oil’s combustion point
Oil when exposed to air will begin to decompose into different chemicals. This decomposition releases heat. If that heat is contained by a bin or a large pile of rags, it can become enough to ignite. It is helped along by the fact that many oils are flammable in and if themselves and as their vapor builds up around the rags it can be ignited at a lower temperature than the rag itself.
Latest Answers