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

Ok, for those of you that are completely boggled, here it is plain and simple (hopefully): when hydrogen and oxygen molecules are not bound (that is, they're separate), they can react with each other (usually with a loud boom, or at least a pop, hehe). Once they react with each other, they form water, because of the two chemicals' tendencies when it comes to making molecular bonds - think of it as each chemical being very picky about which chemicals and how many atoms of those chemicals it bonds with. Now, since water is hydrogen and oxygen that have already been combusted, and therefore bonded, there is no way for them to do it again, without being separated first. The explosion happens during the 'bonding' process, so since water is hydrogen bonded to oxygen, this process cannot happen again. Ok, that's it, if you've gotten this far I hope you've learned something. :)

Posted by Kyle on 2003-01-05 16:13:04