Are Oranges Flammable? (oranges peel, juice)

Ever heard of the term “fire orange”? It is a variety of citrus fruit that has been known to catch fire. The fire is caused by the Orange’s thick peel, and it can burn for several minutes.

Now, imagine this happening in your kitchen or your car! For most people, the thought of this happening would be unthinkable. But it can happen, and there are certain precautions you should take to prevent it from happening.

Well, hearing that, I personally conducted an experiment to test if the oranges are flammable or not and surprisingly found this myth is actually true.

Oranges are flammable when exposed to certain conditions. It has a flashpoint of 35 degrees Celsius which means it can ignite if the temperature is close to 35 degrees Celsius and there is a fire or spark source.

However, it’s important to note that these conditions aren’t harmful or dangerous in any way—they’re merely not conducive to the longevity of the fruit.

An orange can burn, but not in the way you might think. However, this didn’t stop the Orange from being one of our most popular topics for discussion. In fact, many people thought it would be a really interesting question to tackle.

But, unfortunately, what we discovered was that the concept of fire and oranges is entirely misleading. So let’s take a look at what science has to say about this matter.

In this fireproof depot guide you’ll learn the following:

  • Why does everyone love Oranges?
  • Are orange juice flammable?
  • What is the flashpoint of Orange or Orange Juice?
  • Why does Orange contain Limonene?
  • Why is orange peel flammable? and much more..
Are Oranges Flammable thumbnails

Why does everyone love Oranges?

Oranges are a fruit that is good for your health. They contain vitamin C, which helps with colds and flu, and they also help to prevent cancer. There are many different kinds of oranges, including mandarins, sweet oranges, and navels.

The most popular kind of Orange is the navel because it has the least amount of bitterness. Oranges can be eaten fresh or juiced. They also come in canned form.

There are many different orange-colored foods that we eat on a daily basis, such as juices and meats or cheeses.

In addition, oranges can be used to make jams and jellies, which you don’t usually see on grocery store shelves because they contain more than 500 percent of the recommended fruit content for vitamin C items.

Orange Peel – Fire Orange: The USDA defines an orange peel as any part located between the outermost layer of skin before eating or grating it. This includes peels wrapped up fresh so they would not rot afterward.

Burnt Orange Oil: Buying burnt orange oil is not recommended because it may contain other harmful elements to the body. Such things can include iodine, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and hydrocyanic acid.

Are Oranges Flammable?

Yes, they are. Even more so than regular citrus fruits. These citrus fruits contain a group of chemicals called Limonene that causes high temperatures that explode and catch fire. The fire spreads quickly and can easily damage your property if not handled with caution.

Limonene is a clear and slightly flammable liquid used as an agricultural pesticide and in the pharmaceutical industry. It might also be toxic to humans if ingested in large quantities, likely due to its ability to ignite spontaneously.

Limonene can cause suffocation or fatal burns when inhaled over prolonged periods at concentrations lower than those required for self-ignition by Limonene itself. In addition, exposure via inhalation may lead to coughing fits and throat irritation with burning.

Are orange juice flammable?

The flashpoint is defined as the temperature at which a solid will ignite if exposed to air.

The high levels of Limonene found in hot orange juice will cause it to burn when mixed with oxygen, so it should not be spilled on clothes or anywhere else.

It burns even more quickly than many other citrus oils and can reach temperatures.

What is the flashpoint of Orange or Orange Juice?

Orange is mainly a fruit that contains a compound named limonene which is a highly flammable element.

According to the Material safety data sheet published in Fishersci, the flashpoint of orange oil is 48 °C / 118.4 °F. This means that if the temperature goes close to 48 degrees Celsius, Limonene will ignite the orange peel.

So the flashpoint of Orange or Orange oil or Orange peel is 48 °C / 118.4 °F. Limonene is a liquid at room temperature, but it quickly burns and appears harmless when spilled on skin or mixed with water.

Among citrus oil, oranges produce more Limonene than lemons.

Why does Orange contain Limonene?

Orange contains Limonene, which is an organic compound. Limonene is a terpene that is found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruits.

Limonene is an ingredient in some essential oils like orange oil, lemon oil, and lime oil. The production of Limonene is also used to make products like cleaners and polishes.

In addition, Limonene has antifungal properties and is used in the manufacturing of some medicines. Limonene also helps oranges by killing the insects that eat them.

Now we have got the actual point, and that is that Limonene has the ability to kill insects. Wondering what the benefits of that are? Let’s explain-

We know oranges are one of the most popular fruits in the world. So the Orange tree wants to reproduce a new generation that keeps its heredity.

But the Orange tree doesn’t allow new daughter trees to grow just under the mother tree. That’s why the fruits have to be taken away, thus the seeds. That tough job can be done by humans, birds, or other animals but not insects.

On the other hand, insects try to penetrate the peel to get inside which the plant does not want. So plants develop a system that creates Limonene inside the peel, which prevents insects, bugs, and other tiny creatures.

Thus the oranges have Limonene inside the peel. And we know the story after that.

Why is orange peel flammable?

Orange peel is flammable due to its high content of Limonene. Limonene, or specifically D-limonene, is the main component of orange peel. Limonene is a product of Hydrocarbons, and we all know hydrocarbons are flammable.

 orange peel

Orange peel is used as a fragrance in perfumes, but ozone-depositing uses of d-limonene are expected to expand. D-limonene is also present in other citrus fruits like lemon, grapefruit, and tangerine. Again, it is used as a solvent for fragrances and flavors.

What are the precautions to be taken when working with Orange peels?

  1. If you have a sore throat, do not help yourself by gargling with orange juice. It can cause a person to gag and vomit, which could lead to aspiration pneumonia.
  1. Avoid vigorous exercise immediately after eating orange juice — it may trigger an asthma attack.
  1. Do not use alcohol, cosmetic products, or medicines containing citrus oils unless they are specifically labeled to be used in such applications, and the directions say so.
  1. Do not eat hot foods or drink warm liquids after burning orange oil for flavoring food.

Can you start a fire with an orange?

Orange is not as common as a fire starter as other fruit peels because of the high amount of volatile compounds in it. However, some people have had success building fires with orange peel alone if applied to the exterior branches on low-oxygen fuel compositions.

Related Questions (FAQs)

1. Is Citrus flammable?

Citrus trees are used to produce fruit rich in vitamin C. In addition, the peel of the citrus fruits is often dried to make juice for flavoring other foods. When citruses are dried, they can be either burned or ignited to produce heat and smoke.

2. Why does sodium burn with an orange flame?

The orange flame is caused by the oxidation of sodium, which produces calcium and hydrogen peroxide. The hydrogen peroxide then reacts with the calcium to produce water and heat.

3. Why is freshly squeezed orange juice so hard to get in America?

Freshly squeezed orange juice is hard to get in America because producers use a large number of chemicals and heat to make the juice, which makes it difficult for consumers to find unprocessed orange juice.

Also read:

Conclusion

Oranges are delicious food. Never be afraid of the headache of its flammability. Obviously, the peel and juice are flammable but trust me; they are not that dangerous to take into consideration. Other than that, you can play with it to surprise your friends.