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[Makrond]

Carbon burns. Carbon is the only thing in organic chemistry that burns. Simple as that. Trees, coal, people, vodka... it's all carbon.

No carbon = no burning.

This is a piece of magnesium being ignited. Are you going to tell me that that's not a fire, because it's not carbon?

I knew someone would say this...

in organic chemistry

Bleah, I must have missed a large part of the discussion... I didn't realise we were igniting steel...

I'm going to slink away quietly. 

[winner]

what's the difference between a carburizeing and an oxidizeing reaction?

[Draco18s]

Carburization is forcing carbon atoms into the lattice of the iron/steel/other metal to make it stronger, as the carbon atoms put stress on the network that doesn't allow it to deform as much as it did before.


Small gaps between atoms, called interstices, are where small elements like carbon and nitrogen fit. As the alloying increases, the straining in the atomic lattice increases, requiring more force to deform the workpiece (hence making it a high-strength metal).

[zagibu]

Carbon burns. Carbon is the only thing in organic chemistry that burns. Simple as that. Trees, coal, people, vodka... it's all carbon.

No carbon = no burning.

This is a piece of magnesium being ignited. Are you going to tell me that that's not a fire, because it's not carbon?

I knew someone would say this...

in organic chemistry

Bleah, I must have missed a large part of the discussion... I didn't realise we were igniting steel...

I'm going to slink away quietly. 

Are there even organisms that don't contain any carbon? Or is it safe to say that anything burns in organic chemistry?

[Granite26]

Carbon burns. Carbon is the only thing in organic chemistry that burns. Simple as that. Trees, coal, people, vodka... it's all carbon.

No carbon = no burning.

This is a piece of magnesium being ignited. Are you going to tell me that that's not a fire, because it's not carbon?

I knew someone would say this...

in organic chemistry

Bleah, I must have missed a large part of the discussion... I didn't realise we were igniting steel...

I'm going to slink away quietly. 

Are there even organisms that don't contain any carbon? Or is it safe to say that anything burns in organic chemistry?

All Earth life is carbon based, but it is a stable of Sci Fi to have critters that aren't.  Xenomorph's (Geiger's baddies) are supposedly Silicon based, and the Critters from Evolution where... Nitrogen, I think.

[Draco18s]

it is a stable of Sci Fi to have critters that aren't.

Staple; "a standard commodity rather than a specialty item."

[Granite26]

it is a stable of Sci Fi to have critters that aren't.

Staple; "a standard commodity rather than a specialty item."

You are correct sir...  Just be careful about throwing the first stone

[Draco18s]

Oh, I'm very well aware that my typing and my spelling is terrible.

[LumenPlacidum]

Are there even organisms that don't contain any carbon? Or is it safe to say that anything burns in organic chemistry?

The definition of an organic compound, the essential materials of organic chemistry, is a chemical compound containing carbon.  Of course, when it was defined for me in a classroom, and not by wikipedia, it was that an organic compound is one that contains hydrocarbons, molecules with both carbon and hydrogen.

[Erk]

Thanks, Irmo, for saving me the trouble of typing all that up. I'd no idea peoples' knowledge of chemistry was so sad. I mean, not knowing basic redox chemistry is one thing but surely everyone at least lit a chunk of metal on fire in high school? Or has the world's pyromania training fallen so far?

On the other hand the silicate thing can be easily critically thunk. How often do you hear about glassmaking facilities exploding because their sand storage bins ignited?

[zagibu]

All the time. Those things are more volatile than nitroglycerin carried in open jars.

[winner]

if you've ever seen an old glass crucible (they only last about two years) it's completely riddled with holes because molten glass is a very good solvent.

[Erk]

Neat, but water is also a very good solvent and not known for combustibility

[Neonivek]

"water is also a very good solvent and not known for combustibility"

Add electricity and a source of flame...

[zagibu]

Hehe, neat trick, but we all know about electrolysis and how it generates hydrogen .