Why does a glowing splint of wood burn only slowly in air,but rapidly in a burst of flames when placed in pure oxygen?
A)There is a greater number of collisions between the wood and oxygen molecules.
B)Oxygen is a flammable gas.
C)Pure oxygen is able to absorb carbon dioxide at a faster rate.
D)A glowing wood splint is actually extinguished within pure oxygen because there's no room for the smoke to expand.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Oxygen supports combustion, and in a pure oxygen environment, the rate of combustion increases due to a higher concentration of oxygen molecules. This leads to more frequent collisions between the oxygen molecules and the combustible material (wood), thereby accelerating the burning process.

Why Does a Glowing Splint of Wood Burn Only Slowly