Perhaps it would be more correct to ask a little differently. For example, like this: "Thanks to what properties of air does a fire burn?" But what is the question, such is the saying, and the answer.
“Bonfire uses the properties of air” - what a strange statement, however. Although, of course, you can philosophize about the elements of fire. Or recall his spirits of the salamander, which hails from medieval magic.
But you can go through a simple experiment.
No air burns
To the question “What properties of air does bonfire use?” The answer can be found in a simple experiment. We don’t even need to pile firewood. Because bonfire is fire. And, therefore, it can be replaced by, say, a candle.
The progress of the experiment:
- We light a candle.
- Cover it with a glass jar.
- We are waiting for a few minutes.
Result: the flame goes out.
Conclusion: a candle, a gas burner and the like in an airless space goes out. So, for burning, all of them (and the fire) use the property of air. Which one exactly?
The presence of oxygen in it.
Fire is a chemical reaction. Any substance with it is so heated that it combines with oxygen in the air. That is, an oxidation reaction occurs.
If a tree is heated without air, it:
- It will be divided into tar and charcoal.
- It will turn into hydrocarbons (combustible gases).
Deviates from the breath
There is also an addition to the answer to the question “What properties of air does the fire use?”.
Here you can use the candle remaining from the first experiment. It is necessary to light it again and bring it, for example, to an open window.
If you observe the flame, you will notice that it can deviate from the blow. When making a fire, people use the property of air (no matter how weak or strong its flow) to set the direction for fire.
It is useful to take this principle into account when making a fire in difficult weather conditions. Access to a flammable “liquefied” air stream must be given. Or blow yourself in the appropriate direction.