Spontaneous Human Conbustion - possible?

[Texas Diesel]

Climate Change : Yahoo! Green



The number 1 scientific reason against the phenomon is that (salt) water (98% of your body) wont burn.



Interesting...

 

[rbattelle]

Mythbusters did one on spontaneous human combustion. Not a chance.

Ryan

 

[Texas Diesel]

I dont watch them because they seem to be showboats.



What was the reason(s) they gave?



I never thought much of the phenomenon until I read the above story.

 

[JFlagg]

South Park proved it possible, just have to hold you farts for too long:-laf

 

[LowFly]

I saw a vid of the water burning a few months ago... . it was interesting to say the least... . said they found it by accident... . looked like a neon orange flame IIRC... ...

 

[rbattelle]

What was the reason(s) they gave?

I don't remember now. They tried to get it to happen to a pig, and failed no matter what they tried.

I also saw a documentary on the subject either on Discovery or History. It also said it's a myth.

In my opinion, water isn't a valid fuel - it won't combust (that's why we use it to extinguish fires). Why won't it combust? Because the hydrogen is bonded to another hydrogen and an oxygen atom in a stable configuration (ie, at a low energy state). The only thing to do, then, would be to separate the hydrogen out (as by electrolysis), then use the hydrogen as fuel and oxygen as oxidizer.

Once you perform electrolysis, you no longer have water - you have hydrogen and oxygen. Electrolysis that will produce enough hydrogen to make a viable flame will require an enormous amount of electrical power.

Ryan

 

[WDaniels]

I've seen two articles where they have used water for the combustable. One used fresh water and was on either 60 minutes or dateline or some such documentary show. And the other was saltwater just the other day as mentioned by Diesel Dan. Both documented by several sources and filmed.

WD

 

[ACoyle]

Howstuffworks "How Spontaneous Human Combustion Works"



Post without comment.



AC

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Expose salt water to a little RF (Radio Frequency) radiation - and the free'd hydrogen will burn quite well.



Video on Demand | wkyc.com



Another video - update:

Video on Demand | wkyc.com



Beers,



Matt

 

[The patriot]

Not to make your day but....

T. D. After reading some of your political posts I thought I would "spontaneoiusly combust":-laf



Really, I dont think it's possible.

 

[Texas Diesel]

T. D. After reading some of your political posts I thought I would "spontaneoiusly combust":-laf



Really, I dont think it's possible.

:-laf



I dont know, just thought the discovery was interesting.