"Andrew H. Carter" wrote:
>
> On Sun, 12 Dec 2004 05:39:55 GMT, "Edwin Pawlowski"
> > scribbled some thoughts:
>
>
> >
> >"Andrew H. Carter" > wrote in message
> >>
> >> Tell, you what, how about going into a oxygen rich room and
> >> then striking a match then come back if possible and report
> >> your findings.
> >
> >It is still not considered a flammable gas, but an oxidant. It support
> >combustion but does not cause it. FWIW, a portion of my income is from
> >handling oxygen so I took the time to learn a little about it.
> >
>
> I should think the definition needs to be changed.
>
> http://www.bocindustrial.com/safety/..._of_oxygen.asp
>
> Smoking
>
> Many burning accidents which occur are triggered off by the
> lighting of a cigarette, therefore it is impossible to
> over-emphasise the danger of smoking in oxygen enriched
> atmospheres or where oxygen enrichment can occur. In such
> areas smoking must be forbidden.
>
> So it's okay to strike up a match in an oxygen rich room?

No because oxygen *supports* combustion even though it isn't flammable
itself. That's basic chemistry.
>
> If you cannot have a fire without oxygen, then what praytell
> is oxygen, a fire retardant? Will hydrogen burn in the
> absence of oxygen?

Yes certainly. We did that experiment in high school chemistry; hydrogen
collected from the electrolysis of pure water and ignited by a spark.
>
> The point being that two chemicals which produce flames
> under the right conditions can put up fires of a certain
> type (non-electrical, non-chemical).

Oxygen doesn't produce flames.