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[zchris13]

Nitrogen. The atmosphere would burn at high concentrations of oxygen.

[Vester]

Isn't oxygen also highly corrosive or something?

[Jackrabbit]

Man, this 'oxygen' stuff sucks. I hope I never have to deal with it.

[Vester]

We're basically inhaling a toxic flammable gas cocktail.

[ChairmanPoo]

- At 25% (or more), the entire atmosphere will spontaneously (and most likely explosively), combust.

How?  What would it combust with?  I mean, at the moment the only naturally occuring thing it will combust with is wood, even with extra heat.  Everything else is either too wet, too deep, or is eaten too quickly.

I was wondering the same. Oxygen has to combine with something for there to be combustion. And even then it would likely need an initial "nudge", likely.

Besides, apparently Way Back Then there were oxygen concentrations of 30-35%, and the atmosphere did not spontaneously combust.


Sort of related
http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2006/10/11/giant_insects_might_reign_if_only_there_was_more_oxygen_in_the_air.html

[LegoLord]

Oh, those silly insects with their inneficient breathing systems.  We just get a bit sluggish.  Which in some cases might actually be worse than simply growing to smaller sizes.

[Neruz]

Isn't oxygen also highly corrosive or something?

Incredibly. Oxygen is one of the most powerful corrosives around.


At 25% the atmosphere would most certainly not spontainiously combust; thats rediculous. 50% maybe. At 25% fires would definitely be noticably worse, burning faster and hotter, but to suggest that the atmosphere would just suddenly catch fire from a 4% increase to 25% is just silly.

[ChairmanPoo]

I doubt it would even at 50%. Or 90% for that matter. Oxygen masks are not blowtorches, as you may have noticed.

[Jackrabbit]

Well, if there was 50% oxygen in the air, wouldn't flame ignite it?

There's a reason you don't smoke whilst wearing an oxygen mask.

[Rashilul]

Because its really, really hard.

[Vester]

Actually Rashilul's right.

How would you smoke while wearing an oxygen mask?

[Neruz]

Well, if there was 50% oxygen in the air, wouldn't flame ignite it?

There's a reason you don't smoke whilst wearing an oxygen mask.

What would the oxygen burn? Fire is basically what happens when certain things oxygenate, but you need something for the oxygen to oxygenate.

[ChairmanPoo]

yeah.

Well, actually, if you were smoking a cigarrete, and got doused in oxygen, it  would burn faster. So there's something to be said about that

[Neruz]

The ciggarette flares up brightly and burns faster, possibly burning you. Pure oxygen + fire is a standard high-school science trick.

[Jackrabbit]

Because its really, really hard.

Fair point.