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

In general, as memory serves, combustibility (or ability to react violently) is not a function of an atom (such as H or O) but of a molecule.

And while H₂, O₂ and H₂O may seem very similar in composition, as molecules they are very different in structure.

Posted by levik on 2002-11-14 04:08:08