Thursday, March 12, 2009

Question : Why doesn't wood melt?

No google, wiki or asking Jeeves of any kind.


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11 comments:

Discovering M said...

it does start to melt for a microsecond before it burns.. the melt cycle is too short to be noticed..

A Chrysanthemum by any other name... said...

few theories
1. the melting point is higher than the burning point
2. not sure whether there is any rule that something as complex as wood should melt - the rule applies to elements and maybe compounds
By the way eggs behave in quite the opposite way - they solidify when heated. answer that!

zap said...

@ Chrys - Absolutely right.

As for eggs turning hard on heating or meat firming up on cooking it happens because the proteins in eggs, meat or the skin on curdled milk (complex substances like in your Point 2) are thermally unstable.

A Chrysanthemum by any other name... said...

i like "thermally unstable" its so vaguely erudite

zap said...

We could use the scientific term 'denatured' instead, if you prefer it:)

Anonymous said...

Wood doesn't melt coz it not a meltal... oops metal

zap said...

Hahaha

pseudonymph said...

Can I get back to you on this?

iz said...

Hmmm...as fascinating as the question might be....

zap said...

@iz - :-)

Diwakar Sinha said...

It used to melt before it found that burning up was more fun.