Why Is That.......?

Question

When you soak a piece of cotton in rubbing alcohol, and light it on fire, how come the cotton itself isnt burned, or damaged at all, is it because the alcohol is on fire, and the cotton is wet?

I mean its pretty weird, all of it is on fire, yet none of it is damaged....can someone explain?

Answer 1

alcohol can burn very easily. but as cotton is made up of fibres and many other difficultily  burning materials.  to burn it time is required with fire  to reach the heat completely to its parts.  so when alcohol soaked  cotton is subjected to fire,  as alcohol is restless to burn, it starts burning. u can say it sacrificial burning.   cotton becomes only wet due to some molecules of alcohols which are going to go out are which are inward.

Answer 2

the cotton will burn given time. The alcohol has a low flash point and the alcohol acts as a coolent for the cotton ball till it off gasses with heat and or time.

you can do another neat trick. you can boil water in a paper cup over an open flame. The water will boil and the cup will not burn.