Advanced search

Answers


Is it possible to liquidise wood?

What would happen say you heated wood to a high enough temperature? just in a complete absence of oxygen therefore combustion (i'd imagine) would not occur.  Would wood start to liquidise? obviously wood is a combination of many chemical compounds and i'm sure they will all respond differently i was just curious as to whether any of them would liquidise out, if so or if not why?

sssss
 (no votes)

submit an answer
  • Member status
  • none

Categories: Plants.

Tags: chemistry, Wood, Oxygen, combustion.

 

Report abuse


3 answer(s)


Reply

Jon-Richfield says:

We have already had thaat question. Look up this URL:

 

http://www.last-word.com/content_handling/show_tree/tree_id/2505.html

sssss
 (1 vote) average rating:4

Tags: chemistry, Wood, Oxygen, combustion.

top

posted on 2010-11-18 13:59:45 | Report abuse

Reply

markct1989 says:

hi there, sorry didn't realise a similar question already existed.  In your answer to the other question you stated that the molecules are too big, that if you started to shake them, then they would simply break down into smaller molecules, is it possible that these smaller molecules may liquidise into something or would they just turn straight to gas?

Cheers

Mark

sssss
 (no votes)

Tags: chemistry, Wood, Oxygen, combustion.

top

posted on 2010-11-19 12:56:47 | Report abuse

Reply

Jon-Richfield says:

No problem. It was not an obvious thing to look up.

The range of compounds includes carbon which is a solid at all reasonable temperatures, Various tarry compounds that are generally liquids and not very volatile, waxes that are solids but melt easily, various volatile liquids such as organic acids, alcohols such as methanol, ring compounds such as furans and the like, and gases such as formaldehyde and carbon monoxide.

At the time of the heating most of the liquids will be gases (or vapours if you like) but the less volatile substances will condense if you cool them enough.  "Dry distillation" is what they call that sort of thing.)

sssss
 (no votes)

Tags: chemistry, Wood, Oxygen, combustion.

top

posted on 2010-11-19 19:22:24 | Report abuse


The last word is ...

the place where you ask questions about everyday science

Answer questions, vote for best answers, send your videos and audio questions, save favourite questions and answers, share with friends...

register now


ADVERTISMENT