Naked Science Forum
Non Life Sciences => Chemistry => Topic started by: Tset Tsyung on 22/06/2008 17:18:53
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I have been told that when water is under the correct circumstances (such as pressure and temperature) and then has a catalyst in the form of an explosion added then water vapour can become flammable!
I was told this when discussing alternative methods for improving fuel sources in cars.
I was told (by someone who is either telling the truth or mistaken) that in the sixties he knew someone that ran a mini 1000 with an extended ram jet. This allowed him to run the car on a mixture of paraffin (illegal) and water.
What are the necessary conditions needed to create the above environment for water to become explosive/flammable?
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Catalysts can be used to separate water into hydrogen and oxygen.
The hydrogen can then be used as fuel in an internal combustion engine...
http://peswiki.com/energy/Directory:Hydrogen_from_Water#Catalytic_Systems
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Water vapour won't burn (except in an atmosphere of fluorine).
Catalysts can only make reactions happen faster- they don't make reactions happen that are not energetically favoured; you need an external engery source to do that.
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Burning is the process of oxidisation i.e. combining with oxygen to release energy. Water is already oxidised, so you can't 'burn' water - it's already been 'burnt'.
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Some chap did ask a question with a similar explosive edge......I can't remember who it was, but he's gallant, charming, a bonviveur and raconteur.....
...anyway...his question can be found via the below link which takes you to a page on the other end of it !!.....amazing isn't it ?.......you know.....links and all that !!
http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=6950.0