If hydrogen (H) is combustible and oxygen (O) is combustible, why does water (H₂O) water not explode?

A substance is considered combustible if it reacts violently with oxygen. Oxygen doesn't react violently with itself, so it's not combustible. If we relax the meaning of "combustible" to mean "highly reactive" (which oxygen is), then water is the result of the reaction between oxygen and water. The chemical energy has already been released, so there's not much potential energy left in water to cause an explosion.

Posted by friedlinguini on 2002-11-14 02:43:35