paper must be heated to 234 degrees celcius to begin reacting with oxygen. This can be done by putting the paper over a flame. Why do you think paper must be heated to start burning.

Answer 1

Paper must be heated to a certain temperature, known as the ignition point or ignition temperature, before it can begin burning due to several factors:

1. Activation Energy: Burning is a chemical reaction known as combustion, which requires a specific amount of energy to initiate. This energy is needed to break the bonds in the cellulose fibers of the paper and to initiate the reaction with oxygen.

2. Vaporization of Moisture: Paper often contains moisture. Heating it helps evaporate this moisture, allowing the paper to reach the necessary temperature for combustion.

3. Formation of Flammable Gases: When paper is heated, it undergoes pyrolysis (thermal decomposition) before it ignites. This process produces flammable gases (like volatile organic compounds) that are released from the paper, which will then react with oxygen when the temperature is high enough.

4. Oxygen and Temperature Relationship: Combustion requires not only fuel (in this case, the paper), but also an adequate concentration of oxygen and sufficient temperature. Reaching the ignition temperature ensures that the reaction can proceed rapidly once initiated.

Overall, heating paper to its ignition temperature provides the necessary conditions for the combustion reaction to start, transforming it from a solid state into gases that can react with oxygen and support sustained burning.