Burning of alcohol

[Primarygun]

If we heat alcohol in a airtight container, will it burn?

When we heat it with oxidizing agent, will it result in a fire?

[YT2095]

if there`s no air in there, then no, it`ll not burn (flame), although the vapor pressure would probably rupture the container.

[woelen]

If we heat alcohol in a airtight container' date=' will it burn?

When we heat it with oxidizing agent, will it result in a fire?[/quote']

No, alcohol requires oxygen for burning. Of course, when it is mixed with a suitable oxidizer and heated, then of course it could result in a fire.

 

A nice example of a fire, resulting from an alcoholic compound and an oxidizer is the addition of some glycerol or glycol to finely powdered solid KMnO4. Even without heating you will see it burst in flames within a few tens of seconds.

 

Another such an example is adding ethanol to some solid and fairly finely divided CrO3. The ethanol inflames on contact with the CrO3. A similar thing happens with Mn2O7.

[Primarygun]

Another such an example is adding ethanol to some solid and fairly finely divided CrO3. The ethanol inflames on contact with the CrO3. A similar thing happens with Mn2O7.

Is it possible to burn in the process of making ethanoic acid by acidified potassium dichromate?

Moreover, is only the vapour responsible for burning?

[YT2095]

yes, it`s possible, ethanoic acid itself is quite flamable also.

and yes it would only be the Vapor that ignites.

[woelen]

Is it possible to burn in the process of making ethanoic acid by acidified potassium dichromate?

Moreover' date=' is only the vapour responsible for burning?[/quote']

No, you don't have to worry about fire when you mix ethanol with a solution of acidified potassium dichromate. You will, however, notice a good deal of heating when the solution is concentrated.

 

It becomes a different matter, when you add ethanol to solid CrO3. But making solid CrO3 from potassium dichromate is not easy at all, so in practice dichromate is a fairly safe oxidizer as far as risk of fire is concerned (it most likely is dangerous, however, in another way, chromium (VI) compounds are strongly believed to be carcinogens).

 

If you get a fire from CrO3 and ethanol, then even without oxygen present, the fire will be sustained. The CrO3 is the supplier of oxygen and the reaction is extremely violent and cannot be extinguished easily! So, the presence of vapor in a CrO3/ethanol fire also does not matter that much. Of course, the presence of vapor may make things worse, because oxygen from the air will be thrown in as well and for that part of course the vapor is needed.

[Primarygun]

Thank you.