Does paper really burn at Fahrenheit 451?

Question

My students are reading Ray Bradbury's book, and this question came up. I know Bradbury himself says he didn't exactly research the matter thoroughly, so I wouldn't be surprised if it's not true. However, is there a way to test this? Could we do an experiment in a high school science lab that would give us at least some answers?

Thanks!

Answer 1

It isn't paper that burns at 451 Fahrenheit, it's the "glue" that binds the book together which does. I would imagine that paper would burn at a much lower temperature. I don't know a safe way to test this for high school students.

Answer 2

There is a safe way to test this for high school students. Most definately, but you have to do it outdoors. I'll tell you exactly what to do:

1 - Get a three dollar charcoal grill (or use yours).

2 - Crumble up some newspaper sheets.

3 - You need an infrared gun thermometer.

4 - A propane torch or a MAPP torch.

5 - Two red bricks or rocks.

Place the torch under the grill so it heats the bottom. Put the crumbled paper in the top of the grill. Monitor the temperature with the infrared thermometer until the paper ignites. Now, you don't shoot the paper with the gun, you shoot the grill bottom. Seems like a lot, right? Think again. An infrared gun thermometer at Harbor Freight Tools will only cost you $30 on sale, and you can use it for all of your projects and at home for the rest of your life. Every science teacher or home scientist should have one. They are unbelievable. They measure the surface temperature from a distance with a laser. Now, don't let your students play around with it, because they will be shooting each other in the eyeballs. But that is how you could do it. You can't shoot a shiney surface; it must be black or opaque, but they are incredible devices. I shoot my soup on the stove and my food on the grill with it to see how hot it is before I take it off. They are extremely accurate and you never have to touch anything. You'll use it for a hundred projects. Good luck.

Answer 3

Its close enough, there are some variables as to paper composition and treatments. Vol 2 pg 406 of the  "Handbook for the Physical Testing of Paper" specifies typical results for the ignition temperature of paper as 450F (Yes there really is such a book and it can be your for $205 / vol)

Answer 4

It's true. This is a fact document by many scientific papers and industrial safety manuals.

What this number refers to is the FLASHPOINT of paper, or the temperature at which the paper will burst into flame.  With normal cellulose-based paper, this is 451 degrees Fahrenheit, or about 232 degrees Celcius.

Of course, many different chemicals could be added to the paper formula to up that temperature, making the paper "flame resistent".  And chemicals could be added to make the paper "flash" at a lower point, such as magician's flashpaper.

I cannot think of a SAFE experiment for high schoolers to do.  What obviously comes to mind is to lay a piece of paper on a hotplate, turn the hotplate up high, and see if the paper catches fire.  Use a thermocouple device to measure the temperature.  [I KNOW that paper that touches the hot burner on an electric stove WILL catch fire . . . .]

http://www.unesco.org/webworld/ramp/html...

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