What is needed to make fuels burn?

Answer 1

Fuel is part of what is known as the fire triangle. There are three things which are required for a fire to start and continue; fuel, heat and oxygen. The fuel must be heated up to what is called it's flash point. This is the temperature at which it gives off flammable vapours, those vapours must then be heated up to what is called the ignition point, this is the temperature at which they react with oxygen and a chemical reaction takes place which is seen as the burning of the fuel, evidenced by flame or flames, light and heat. What you are seeing is the change of chemical structure of the fuel and oxygen. For example Methane (natural gas) which has a chemical formula of CH4 will react with oxygen when heated and will combine with 2 molecules of O2, changing into 2 molecules of H2O (water) and 1 molecule of CO2 (carbon dioxide). This chemical reaction gives off a blue light and a lot of heat, which is used to heat up water in a domestic boiler, for example.

Answer 2

To burn a fuel, the other two things needed are oxygen and heat. Heat could come from a flame to start the fire (once the fire is started it continues to produce enough heat unless it runs out of fuel or oxygen, or is put out), or it could come from a spark.

Answer 3

you have to burn it,or do you...

Answer 4

oxygen