What am I looking at when I see a flame?

The way it moves it certainly looks some kind of fluid. Something very unique on it's own, and I've never been able to fully grasp what I'm looking at when I stare at a flame.

Anyone wanna answer this for me?

It's an oxidation.

A simple reaction between an element and oxygen (or a similar gaz) which creates heat.

This post was edited by Trademarks on Sep 21 2009 05:48pm

atoms and molekyles moving fast enuff to create light

I could give you a way better explanation but english isn't my main language and I don't know the english chemistry language much.

you said it pretty well. a chemical reaction between oxygen and a fuel

that's what my physics prof told me, though i felt like i'm still missing something

I can pass my hand through a flame and i certainly feel some sort of pressure against my hand as i pass through it.

Tell me more if there's anything else that can be said about what we see and feel during this chemical reaction.

Is it possible to classify the flames as a substance?

This post was edited by duffman316 on Sep 21 2009 06:02pm

The pressure you feel is simply the hot air going upward.

essentially flame is the biproduct of combining oxygen with compounds, it is the energy form released from that combination. the feeling that you "feel" or the pushing sensation of the flame billowing upward is really just the chemical substance occupying the space where it is released and combined with oxygen, and typically this results in a rapid, constant release of heat.

Heat, light, and air pressure.

it's god.