Question

When an Oxygen molecule is burned what happens to the molecule ?

Answer 1

If hydrogen and oxygen both burn, then why if they are combusted to form water, does this not burn?

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46 ANSWERS



Kai Smith

Answered Feb 11, 2012 · Upvoted by Malcolm Sargeant,Degree level applied chemistry + 20yr experience in corrosi…and Shweta Karwa, PhD student in chemical engineering, Georgia Tech




Oxygen does not burn, it only facilitates the burning. Hydrogen is the fuel that is combusted, as it is oxidized by oxygen.

The weak H-H bond in hydrogen is broken, as well as the O=O double bond in oxygen. This involves hydrogen losing its valence electrons to the oxygen atom to form a covalent bond, in the form H-O-H. When covalent bonds are formed, energy is released - this is what we observe as a violent explosion when these two elements react.

Answer 2

Answer:

In burning, the two atoms or molecules will combine and release energy. Usually one of the two molecules is oxygen or something else chemically like it called an oxidizer.