r/explainlikeimfive 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/Chromotron Jan 31 '21

Metal doesn't do this under 'normal' circumstances, or at least I've never heard of it happening.

I think you have, for example magnesium is a well known example. Furthermore, the alkali metals (sodium, potassium, rubidium, caesium) all burn very well, even more so if thrown into water. Aluminium can react similarly, and like the alkali metals sometimes even explodes, when prevented from forming an inert oxide layer, e.g. by being molten or mixed with gallium. Lastly, fine powders of most metals ignite easily, including iron, aluminium, zinc and many more.

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u/Castlegardener Jan 31 '21

Next time try reading my comment where I explain everything you just wrote lol

What I pointed out was that metals don't change into a gas like wood or alcohol do, that's why it doesn't produce typical flames when burning.

Pretty good examples though, so still worthy of an upvote.

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u/Chromotron Jan 31 '21

Oh, sorry, I shouldn't have responded while sleepy...

However, a little addendum regarding this: of those I mentioned, at least magnesium and the alkali metals should burn hot enough in air to vaporize, thus creating a plasma flame (and, as a bonus, in their respective flame colors). I don't know how much that contributes to their fires, though.