Submitted by DiscountVoodoo t3_zxwwbc in askscience
Comments
lemoinem t1_j27k4wn wrote
A fire needs heat, fuel (something that burns), and an oxidizer. The most common oxidizer, by far, is oxygen, but several other elements can fill this role. Among others are fluorine, chlorine, and the other halogens.
5J7XM33IXN4XCQI6B2BB t1_j28v3yt wrote
Yes. In chemistry, the general term is "redox reaction" where one subastance is reduced while another is simultaneously oxidized. With fire, oxygen is reduced, while carbon, hydrogen, sulfer, etc are oxidized to produce compounds like CO, CO2, H2O, SO2, etc.
Other redox reactions that you might consider similar to burning without oxygen use other reactive oxidizers like Chlorine, Bromine, Fluorine, etc.
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rootofallworlds t1_j2789zo wrote
You can get similar reactions with chlorine, fluorine, and some compounds of them such chlorine triflouride. Indeed ClF3 will combust with oxides such as sand and asbestos.
You can get combustion with various oxygen-containing compounds too, such as nitrous oxide.