Oxyhydrogen flame
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An oxyhydrogen flame is the flame attending the combustion of hydrogen and oxygen, and is characterized by a very high temperature. Hydrogen gas readily burns in oxygen or air with the formation of water. The quantity of heat evolved, according to Julius Thomsen, is 34,116 calories for each gram of hydrogen burned. This heat-disturbance is quite independent of the mode in which the process is conducted; but the temperature of the flame is dependent on the circumstances under which the process takes place. It obviously attains its maximum in the case of the firing of pure "oxyhydrogen" gas (a mixture of hydrogen with exactly half its volume of oxygen, the quantity it combines with in becoming water, German Knallgas). It becomes less when the "oxyhydrogen" is mixed with excess of one or the other of the two reacting gases, or an inert gas such as nitrogen, because in any such case the same amount of heat spreads over a larger quantity of matter. Many forms of oxyhydrogen lamps have been invented, but the explosive nature of the gaseous mixture rendered them all more or less dangerous. It acquired considerable application in platinum works, this metal being only fusible in the oxyhydrogen flame and the electric furnace; and also for the production of limelight, as in optical ("magic") lanterns. But these applications have been superseded by the electric furnace, and electric light.
Uses
It is thought that burning hydrogen in this way will help store electricity from dependent sources (e.g. solar and wind power) because it is possible to make the two chemicals by passing an electric current through water, thus separating it into hydrogen and oxygen, which can be turned back into water at will by combustion, giving off energy.References
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