OHST Practice Exam

According to the fire tetrahedron, which component is essential for combustion along with oxidizer, fuel, and heat?

1. Confinement

2. Surface area

3. Chain reaction

4. Deflagration

The correct answer is: Chain reaction

The fire tetrahedron is a model that illustrates the four essential components necessary for combustion: fuel, an oxidizer (such as oxygen), heat, and a chain reaction. The presence of a chain reaction is crucial because it sustains the combustion process once it has been initiated. This happens when the heat generated by the combustion itself produces additional free radicals, which then react with the fuel and oxidizer to keep the fire burning. Without this chain reaction, once the initial fuel is heated and ignited, the fire could not continue after the initial energy source is removed. This chain reaction is responsible for the continuous release of energy, allowing the fire to spread and propagate. The other options do provide important concepts related to fire and combustion but do not serve as one of the primary four components in the fire tetrahedron structure. Confinement, for instance, may contain a fire but does not initiate or sustain combustion on its own. Surface area can affect the rate of combustion, generally promoting it, but is not a core component of the tetrahedron. Deflagration refers to a specific type of combustion that occurs at subsonic speeds and also is not a necessary factor in all combustion processes.