What state of matter is fire?

Question

When you think about the properties of each of the states of matter a flame doesn't actually correspond iwth any of them. Solids have molecules tightly packed together that perform little movement (except maybe vibration) and liquids and gases expand as far as the space around them (only gases do it quicker than liquids). Now, I apreciate that the smoke that comes out of a fire is a gas but I'm talkin about the actual flame. It may flicker about and constantly renew itself through the solid fuel that it burning, but what is the actual state of matter of the flame? As long as the fuel stays in the same place so will the flame (i.e. the actual flame does not escape into the atmosphere else people stood metres away from it would also catch fire its only the smoke that comes out of the flame that does this) -

Just one of those random thoughts that has been pickling my head!!! physics nerds answers welcomed

Answer 1

the answer actually lies on - what is fire, in the first place. In our atmosphere, where oxygen is abound, if anything like solid/liquid fuel, dry wood,gas came in touch with a spark (can be caused by friction, electrode plugs, as in the case of automobile engines), then the combustion element creates a flame/fire, due to the burning of fuel in the presence of oxygen. So fire, of course it not a 'matter', rather it is a way of transition of matters, from one state to another.

The combustion causes a change of state, i.e transformation of energy from one form to other, so that we can get light energy or heat energy (in a furnace) or mechanical energy(in a petrol engine). If we get light energy and the wavelength of the flame is within the visible range (400 nanometer - 700 nanometer), only then we can see it. In a jet engine, we can only see a bright fireball glowing only near the afterburner, but actually the 'fire' keeps trailing to a few meters, in the invisible uv range.  

Answer 2

Fire is the superheated, gaseous state of the substances present in the combustion reaction between a Fuel and Oxygen, (generally from the air).

Answer 3

gas i think... but am no scientist

Answer 4

I'll tell you this I have no idea what the answeris (I'd go with the Phd's answer)

Just like to say that your question is one of the best that I have came across.

Have a star

Answer 5

I would have to venture to say that the state of fire is "transition".  It is where the fuel that is burning, be it a liquid, gas or solid, is converted to heat, and smaller solids (soot).

Answer 6

Fire is not a state of matter, it's a mixture of hot gasses, water vapour and solid particles. So it's all 3 really.

Answer 7

It is not a state of matter, fire is energy.

Answer 8

Fire is defined as 'an area of reaction between two gases' - so gas!

Answer 9

I can hazzard a guess and say it's similar to plasma which is what Lightning is made of.  

Answer 10

The ancient Greeks and alchemists thought that fire was an element. They also considered earth, air, and water to be elements. However, the modern definition of an element defines it by the number of protons a pure substance possesses. Fire is made up of many different substances, so it is not an element.

For the most part, fire is a mixture of hot gases. Flames are the result of a chemical reaction, primarily between oxygen in air and a fuel, such as wood or propane. In addition to other products, the reaction produces carbon dioxide, steam, light, and heat. If the flame is hot enough, the gases are ionized and become yet another state of matter: plasma.

Answer 11

ionised gas, i'm not so sure about plasma though =/

i've also noticed that someone on here has marked EVERYONE who said GAS down 1.... ¬_¬ pfft

Answer 12

Fire is a gaseous state because it liberates gases as it burns