why does adding cold water into boiling oil set things on fire?

Question

Pretty much the title. Chemically speaking what’s going on when this happens?

In: Chemistry

Answer 1

Oil and water don’t mix, and oil floats in water. When you throw water in burning oil, the water doesn’t stick to the oil to smother the flames. Instead it displaces the oil and flash vaporizes, which splatters the burning oil everywhere without smothering the fire.