Recent content by Ruphus

Not all exothermic reactions are rapid (think rusting or the setting of concrete), but brutally exothermic reactions tend to go very quickly, especially if gases are involved. This is due to the energy supplied by the reaction raising the kinetic energy of particles in the system, and so...

The kind of reaction you're discussing here is a displacement reaction, a highly reactive element kicking out a less reactive element from a compound and taking its place (like the famous thermit reaction). Oxygen tends to react strongly with many other substances because it needs a couple of...