You must have visited the beach to relax or to build a house with sand by the side of the sea. In general, there are no people who are not familiar with sand.
But how much do you know about sand? Do you know about the components of sand or whether it can be harmful to you?
Sand cannot catch on fire, but it can hold high temperatures as its melting point, and boiling point are so high. So instead, it can extinguish the fire.
In this fireproof depot guide We’ll discuss the following:
- What is the chemical composition of sand?
- How much heat can the sand hold?
- Does sand burn or flammable?
- What is the melting point of sand?
- How does sand stops fire?
What is the chemical composition of sand?
Sand is a mixture of several substances, so its chemical composition is not specific. Instead, sand is formed due to mechanical and chemical conditions of the weather. If you look closely, you will see that the sand particles have different geometric shapes.
If we think about water, then water has two chemical elements called hydrogen and oxygen mixed in the ratio of 2: 1. But not so with sand. However, sand also contains chemicals.
There are some common elements in the sand of any place. However, the most common ingredient is silica (silicon dioxide). The following chemical ingredient I will mention is calcium bicarbonate.
Yes, there are some more elements. For example, aluminum (Al), iron (Fe), nitrogen oxide (NaO), magnesia, etc. But it all depends on where the sand came from.
The amount of silicon present in the sand from place to place has been shown in the graph
How much heat can the sand hold?
If you go to the beach on a hot sunny day, your feet must feel very hot when you walk barefoot in the sand. Have you ever wondered why that is? This is because of the ability of sand to retain heat.
If I compare sand with water, it can be seen that water has a higher specific heat holding capacity. This means that the amount of heat energy required to raise water temperature by 1 degree is not the same as that of sand.
However, sand stores more heat than water because the intermolecular distance is less than that of water.
Simply put, sand heats up faster and takes less time to cool than water. I hope you understand the point.
Can sand catch on fire?
Sand contains silicon dioxide, which I mentioned earlier. It is a very stable compound. Although silicon has oxygen attached to it, it divides the valence electrons of silicon so that no oxidation reaction takes place.
When exposed to high temperatures, sands may melt but not cause a fire.
But people can do it if they want to. For example, if you are crazy about setting fire to sand, mix sand with an ingredient that will break the oxygen bond to silicon and help oxygen germinate. However, the whole work has to be done in the lab.
Does sand burn or flammable?
Sand is not flammable but burns if it comes in contact with high temperatures. At higher temperatures, the sand particles break down and take on a darker color.
You must know that three things are essential for combustion: fuel, oxygen, and heat. Combustion is not possible without any of these. For example, there is no fuel in the sand, but oxygen does not participate in the combustion process. So if you give so much heat, it will not reveal the flammable quality.
Sand is also used in cooking for this fantastic quality of sand. I sometimes use sand for baking. You can do it if you want.
What is the melting point of sand?
Since sand contains various compounds and ores, it is not easy to say the real melting point. So, of course, it has to be determined through laboratory research.
However, since sand contains most silicon, it can be assumed that the melting point and boiling point of silicon will be close to the melting point and boiling point of sand. Silicon has a melting point of 2588 degrees Fahrenheit and a boiling point of 4712 degrees Fahrenheit.
So sand’s melting point and boiling point will be slightly higher than some other substances besides silicon.
Calculated in this way, the melting point of sand can be 2732-2912 degrees Fahrenheit and the boiling point is 3992-4352 degrees Fahrenheit. However, if you notice, you will see that these temperatures are much higher.
How does sand stops fire?
The sand acts as a great fire extinguishing agent since it cannot be set on fire. In addition, some natural ingredients like clay, sand, cement, lime, etc., act as fire retardants. Not only that, if there is a risk of heat around your fireplace or gas stove, then the sand will come in handy.
If there is a fire, sprinkle some sand on it, and you will see that the combustion is reduced. This is because it acts as a barrier between the fire and the oxygen in the air.
Conclusion
Sand is a great material used to make glass and even make brick masonry when making a building. The sea cannot be imagined without water; similarly, the desert cannot be imagined without sand. So every element of nature is related to everyone.
