Fire is a result of combustion which is an oxidation reaction. Oxygen is combined with the fuel (whatever is being burnt) and the result is a huge amount of energy is released as heat and light. This type of reaction (where energy is released from a reaction) is called an exothermic reaction.
When you burn something, the energy released is in the form of light and infrared radiation.
We cannot see infrared radiation with our eyes, but our nerves can detect it, and the signal they send to your brain when they detect it is HOT.
The light we see with our eyes and the colour of the fire is due to types of chemicals that are in the reaction (fire). So when you burn copper for example, the colour of the flame is green. Other types of chemicals burn with different colours, and this is the way fireworks work.
Fire is a result of combustion which is an oxidation reaction. Oxygen is combined with the fuel (whatever is being burnt) and the result is a huge amount of energy is released as heat and light. This type of reaction (where energy is released from a reaction) is called an exothermic reaction.
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Hi Shaunt,
Just to add to James’ explanation.
When you burn something, the energy released is in the form of light and infrared radiation.
We cannot see infrared radiation with our eyes, but our nerves can detect it, and the signal they send to your brain when they detect it is HOT.
The light we see with our eyes and the colour of the fire is due to types of chemicals that are in the reaction (fire). So when you burn copper for example, the colour of the flame is green. Other types of chemicals burn with different colours, and this is the way fireworks work.
Here is a cool little video about fire
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Very good question, shaunt, and very well explained by James and Dustin.
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