What Is Fire?

↓ More info and sources below ↓

Why does fire burn? What's the chemistry and physics of a flame? This week, learn about the beautiful science happening inside a flame!

Michael Faraday's Christmas lectures on candle chemistry:

Flames in space:

Richard Feynman talking about fire:

Have an idea for an episode or an amazing science question you want answered? Leave a comment or check us out at the links below!

-----------------
It's Okay To Be Smart is written and hosted by Joe Hanson, Ph.DFollow me on Twitter: @jtotheizzoe
Email me: itsokaytobesmart AT gmail DOT com

Joe Hanson - Creator/Host/Writer
Joe Nicolosi - Director
Amanda Fox - Producer, Spotzen IncKate Eads - Producer
Andrew Matthews - Editing/Motion Graphics/Animation
Katie Graham - Camera
John Knudsen - Gaffer

Theme music: "Ouroboros" by Kevin MacLeod

Other music via APM
Stock images from Shutterstock, stock footage from Videoblocks

-----------------

More videos:

[brentkaufman]

I asked this question in 8th grade Earth Science class, in 1977(8), and the teacher laughed at me. "What do you mean, What is fire. Fire is fire!" I've asked it in other classes since then, and gotten similar responses. Thank you for confirming that it is a valid question.

[ChantingInTheDark]

“Flames are hollow” that blew my mind, I’d never even thought about that being a possibility! Science is awesome!

[camiloparada]

That spoon thing showing the different components of fire was pretty cool

[daleandrews]

I have a bachelor's degree (B.S.) in biology with a minor in chemistry (basically a degree in pre-med) and this was never explained to me in school. We always just seem to take fire for granted. We know it's hot and bright, but not anything about what processes are taking place while the flame is burning. I added it to my "liked" videos.

[jurgenvandenhouwe]

My daughter recently asked me what fire was. I couldn't give her a decent answer. Now I can. And you went past "a flame is hollow" really fast. Never knew that. Now I do. Now all of my kids do too. Thanks!

[dominiklehn]

I love these things where people just take everyday things most people accept as just existing and ask "yeah, but what is it *exactly*"

[F.B.I.gov.]

*Everyone is asking “What is fire?” But no one is asking “How is Fire?”*

[drudle]

I like the idea that while most people see fire as a purely destructive force, the heat and light from it are reactions from the creation of elements, not the destruction of such.

[BigHonchoGaming]

I always blew my science teachers away asking the question “ is fire a solid liquid or a gas” i never got a true explanation until now.. truly i thank you

[serious_mood_rig]

"I'll do you one better"
"WHY IS FIRE!"

[zakkiediducky]

I renember asking my teacher this and she was just like: "It's a reaction, next question."

[garybyma]

The color of the flame also depends on the element that is undergoing combustion. In addition to heat being generated because electrons are in lower orbitals, light is given off which depends on the spectra of different elements. Copper is green, strontium is red, for example. Fireworks are examples of the colors of different elements.

[Richard_Ashton]

The Latin for 'fireplace' is 'focus' - the centre point of a home.

[CopperheadAirsoft]

see you all in another 10 years when the algorithm brings us back together again!

[germaneduardopatarroyoblan]

didn't know flames were hollow. Interesting.

[fuzzydark]

Legit one of the questions I used to love, making to chemistry teachers, only to receive a vague "That's not as important as other chemical reactions"... Thanks for answering this.

[blazeorbitmoon]

Dude, if they taught me this in science class in a lab, that would’ve been a cool fricken lab to experiment with. “Oh yeah I’ve been around fire my whole life, I know all about it. Wait flames are hollow?”

[THEVATICANTS]

If everyone could explain stuff this simple and straight to the point the world would be a much better place.

[duanal]

I have asked this exact question for years... and yes, chemistry class doesnt quite describe the exact physical properties of a flame very well at all. Thank you for the video!

[acquaisaria]

“I know what fire is…” *scrolls* “well, lemme make sure” *scrolls back*