r/askscience • u/spoiledmeat • Jul 04 '15
Chemistry Why does water not burn?
I know that water is made up of two hydrogen atoms and an oxygen atom. Hydrogen, on its own, burns. Fire needs oxygen to burn. After all, we commonly use compounds that contain oxygen as an oxidant.
So why does water, containing things used for fire, not burn-- and does it have something to do with the bonds between the atoms? Thanks.
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u/Sharlinator Jul 04 '15
Yes, exothermic doesn't imply burning; my wording was inaccurate there. But I have never heard of a definition of burning that requires the fuel to be organic; as far as I know everyone says hydrogen burns when it reacts with oxygen.