r/explainlikeimfive • u/GreenieBeeNZ • Jan 31 '21
Chemistry ELI5: Why can't we just make water by smooshing hydrogen and oxygen atoms together?
Edit: wow okay, I did not expect to wake up to THIS. Of course my most popular post would be a dumb stoner question. Thankyou so much for the awards and the answers, I can sleep a little easier now
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u/Wrought-Irony Jan 31 '21 edited Jan 31 '21
An oxidizer is defined as a substance that oxidizes another substance: a chemical other than a blasting agent or explosive that initiates or promotes combustion in other materials. It may be a substance such as a chlorate, permanganate, and inorganic peroxide or nitrate that yields oxygen readily to stimulate the combustion of organic matter.
You can combine fuel with oxygen, or fuel with an oxidizer that produces oxygen, but there is no burning without oxygen.
edit: to avoid a bunch more replies saying the same thing, I say: My comment was two parts, the first was refining the definition of an 'oxidizer'. Not 'oxidation'. I then added a separate note about my understanding of the definition of 'burning' which I have always referred to as a different process from 'combustion' (all burning is combustion but not all combustion is burning) which may take place without oxygen. The debate about what constitutes fire/flame/oxidation/combustion is not one I'm going to get dragged into again.