why water is commonly used to put on fire
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Water doesn't catch fire because it can't
burn anymore. Burning in our atmosphere is a reaction with oxygen, and
in water hydrogen and oxygen have already burned. You can't burn twice.
The reason water extinguishes flames is because it is exceptionally good at absorbing heat. Water both takes a lot of energy to raise in temperature and to transform into steam, so dumping a large quantity of water on a fire will decrease the temperature down to a level where flames are not actively propagating.
The reason water extinguishes flames is because it is exceptionally good at absorbing heat. Water both takes a lot of energy to raise in temperature and to transform into steam, so dumping a large quantity of water on a fire will decrease the temperature down to a level where flames are not actively propagating.
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Water has a large capacity for absorbing heat, more than other commonly used extinguishing agents. The greater the exposed surface area of the applied water, the more rapidly it will absorb heat. The water contacts the burning material absorbing a huge amount of heat from it, and it's temp rises rapidly turning it into steam. This lowers the temp of the burning material below it's ignition point which reduces/stops combustion.
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