Wtf is Fire? 🔥
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Morning Pyromaniacs!
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/649aa49e57793ed61ecbd3fd/662f38b0d96d99582d2b68d4_FIRE_GIF3.gif)
Have you ever just… looked into fire?
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/649aa49e57793ed61ecbd3fd/662f38b0ef8de0f384565f33_Illustration-FIRE_1.webp)
Deep into the flames.
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/649aa49e57793ed61ecbd3fd/662f38af7f0561a716fc4628_Illustration-FIRE_2.webp)
And thought… what even is this stuff?
Flames are obviously not a solid, nor a liquid.
But it also technically can’t be a gas because fire can burn out, a gas can’t.
Ok, the nerds among you might say, “but what about the 4th state of matter, plasma?”
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/649aa49e57793ed61ecbd3fd/662f38af61149aaa82bda538_Illustration-FIRE_3.webp)
The thing is, this is also wrong.
Plasma only exists when gas is exposed to an electric field or SUPER hot temperatures, like 10,000 degrees.
(And fire only burns at a few hundred degrees)
So if fire isn’t a solid, liquid, gas, or plasma, what actually is it?
Well, it turns out fire isn't actually matter at all, it's actually just a chemical reaction that we can see, hear, and feel.
This reaction requires 3 things:
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/649aa49e57793ed61ecbd3fd/662f38af987447807cc3b5b3_Illustration-FIRE_4.webp)
And when these 3 come together, combustion happens, releasing a ton of heat and hot gasses.
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/649aa49e57793ed61ecbd3fd/662f38b0de5a7597bfb7af71_Illustration-FIRE_5.webp)
The flame is actually just fast moving gas particles, releasing energy as visible light.
Let's get into a little more detail…
When wood starts to burn, the walls of the cells in the wood decompose.
Releasing a bunch of sugars and other molecules into the air.
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/649aa49e57793ed61ecbd3fd/662f38af91019bfe59f0bc63_Illustration-FIRE_6.webp)
These molecules react with oxygen in the air.
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/649aa49e57793ed61ecbd3fd/662f38afed407c958ae2625d_Illustration-FIRE_7b.webp)
Creating Carbon Dioxide and water.
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/649aa49e57793ed61ecbd3fd/662f38af02dfd39907b95de3_Illustration-FIRE_7c.webp)
At the same time, any trapped water in the logs starts to vaporize and expand.
Breaking open the wood and eventually escaping, creating a satisfying crackle sound.
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/649aa49e57793ed61ecbd3fd/662f38b03373a8c97be2aa16_Illustration-FIRE_9.webp)
As the fire heats up more and more, the carbon dioxide and water vapor start to expand.
And as they get less dense, they rise into a column of smoke above the open flame.
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/649aa49e57793ed61ecbd3fd/662f38af5ff5352c2b725874_Illustration-FIRE_10.webp)
Creating a beautiful… dancing array of light and smoke.
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/649aa49e57793ed61ecbd3fd/662f38af976caed9a7ebf919_Illustration-FIRE_11.webp)
Stay Cute,
Reece, Henry & Dylan 🌈
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