Why are gasoline vapors more flammable than liquid gasoline?

Answer 1

Petrol, or octane, has no surface tension because it is a non-polar molecule. Water is very polar, meaning the water molecule has a positive end and a negative end. This causes hydrogen bonding, an inter-molecular attraction, between water molecules. This in turn causes surface tension, which binds water into droplets, and explains many of water's properties. So, petrol evaporates more quickly than water and pours easier.

Answer 2

Gasoline vapors are more flammable than liquid gasoline because they have a wider flammable range, meaning they can ignite at lower concentrations in the air. Vapors are also more easily mixed with air to form an explosive mixture. Additionally, vapors have a higher surface area to volume ratio, allowing them to ignite more quickly when exposed to a spark or flame.

Answer 3

Water molecules have polar characteristics. They have strong intermolecular bonds, namely, hydrogen bonds. But the only intermolecular force present between petrol molecules is London forces which is relatively very weak than hydrogen bonding.

Answer 4

Volatile is defined as likely to change in a very sudden or extreme way. Gasoline is more volatile than water because of its chemical make up.

Answer 5

because it contains oil and oil doesnt mix with water. =)

Answer 6

Oxygen is required for gasoline to burn. There is far more oxygen in gasoline vapor than in liquid gasoline. This is why the flame is on top of a puddle of gas. Just the vapor is burning.

Answer 7

Gasoline is described as a volatile because it evaporates quickly.

Answer 8

Yes