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Name: Akemi R.
Status: student
Age: 20s
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 2000
Question:
Which results in a higher temperature, a luminous or a nonluminous flame? Why?

Replies:
Akemi,

Assuming you might be referring to the flame of a common laboratory Bunsen burner, the non-luminous flame is the hotter of the two. The luminous flame contains particles of incandescent carbon that are the result of incomplete combustion of the fuel gas. If the fuel is incompletely burned, the maximum heat potential of the gas is not fully achieved.

When a weldor first lights his acetylene torch, the flame is brilliantly luminous until he/she adjusts the flow of oxygen for efficient combustion of the fuel gas. One could probably quickly pass one's hand through the luminous acetylene flame without getting burned. It would be very foolish to pass one's hand through the properly adjusted flame. No matter how fast you were to move through the hot zone, you would very likely get a nasty burn.

Regards,
ProfHoff


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