What state of matter is fire? Is it a liquid? I get that question a LOT, so let me clarify. The ancient scientists (Greek, Chinese… you name it) thought fire was a fundamental element. Earth, Air Water, and Fire (sometimes Space was added, and the Chinese actually omitted Air and substituted Wood and Metal instead) were thought to be the basic building blocks of everything, and named it an element. And it’s not a bad start, especially if you don’t have a microscope or access to the internet.


Today’s definition of an element comes from peeking inside the nucleus of an atom and counting up the protons. In a flame, there are lots of different molecules from NO, NO2, NO3, CO, CO2, O2, C… to name a few. So fire can’t be an element, because it’s made up of other elements. So, what is it?


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18 Responses to “What is Fire?”

  1. Aurora Lipper says:

    The goal is to have a mixture in the baking dish that is approximately 50% alcohol and 50% water.

    If the alcohol label says “50-70%”, then the water is already in the alcohol bottle….so there is no need to add water to your mixture.

    But, if your bottle has 90% alcohol or higher, you need to mix that with water.

  2. Suggestion: in the materials list, it says under water: “omit if using 50-70% alcohol” which is misleading, as the experiment shows that the water is necessary …

  4. christinaagoris says:

    the title isn’t what the video is, but the experiment is super cool! but will the money be fine?

  5. Linda Griffith says:

    I figured it out

  6. Watch the video again and see if you can figure it out!

  7. Linda Griffith says:

    why did’nt it burn up

  8. Olwen watkins Olwen watkins says:

    soooooooooooo
    cccccooooooll

  9. Until the alcohol is completely consumed and the fire dies out (due to lack of fuel). Usually about 5 seconds.

  10. Kimberly Voelkel says:

    How did the water and alcohol keep the dollar from burning?

  11. Michelle Stevens says:

    My dollar bill now smells of smoke. I’m glad I had a cup of water next to me! 🙂

  13. Angela Hillier says:

    Can you use 70 percent of rubbing alcohol?

  15. Karri Woods says:

    i only 99% Rubbing Isopropyl Alcohol

  16. Kyra Anderson says:

    i can’t believe the bill didn’t burn!

  17. tracy nelms says:

    this is cool !!!!! Landon

  18. Eric Stevens says:

    well i try’d it and i had to blow it out ,it burn’d it, maybe the alcohol was to strong or maybe it was becus i did not let the bill drip. what do you think it was, i’m not sure