What is the physics behind Ash to forming?

[piareround]

Hey everyone,

I was thinking about the physical solid texture ash and how it form. The wood ash, fly ash, volcanic ash, and soot--types of Ash all look visually different and are cause by different thing; however, they all appear to have a similar texture that we associate with Ash and sometimes even dust.
This made me wonder, what exactly in the process of burning causes ash to look the way it does? Is there a common thermodynamic property related to ash? Is are there conditions required for ash to form in exothermic reaction? What exactly is the physics behind ash and ash formation?

 

[Cleonis]

I was thinking about the physical solid texture ash and how it form. The wood ash, fly ash, volcanic ash, and soot--types of Ash all look visually different and are cause by different thing; however, they all appear to have a similar texture that we associate with Ash and sometimes even dust.

Well, yeah, when a substance has a texture that we associate with ash we tend to call it 'ash'.

If it doesn't have that texture, such as a solidified residue after plastic has been burned, then we don't call it 'ash'. If the residue is dark grey and powdery we call it ash. It doesn't even have to involve actual combustion; volcanic ash is tiny specks of lava that have solidified while up in the air, coming down as a dust.

There is some physics to the color of ash, though.
The blackest of ashes is soot. Soot is incompletely burned material. Under oxygen-rich circumstances, and with intense heat, all carbon in the starting material will oxydize to carbondioxyde. But with insufficient oxygen for complete combustion all kinds of molecules will be synthesized. Different molecules absorb different colors from the spectrum. The residue after incomplete combustion will usually absorb widely across the spectrum, so it tends to be black or at least grey.

Cleonis

 

[charng]

The formation of ash is a complex process that involves several physical and chemical reactions. The main factor that determines the texture and appearance of ash is the type of material being burned. For example, wood ash is primarily composed of calcium carbonate, while volcanic ash is mainly composed of silicate minerals. This difference in composition leads to variations in the texture and appearance of ash.

When organic materials such as wood are burned, the high temperatures cause the chemical bonds within the material to break, releasing gases and leaving behind solid residue. This residue, which we refer to as ash, is a mixture of partially burned organic materials, minerals, and other substances. The size and shape of the ash particles are determined by the intensity of the fire, the amount of oxygen present, and the type of material being burned.

The formation of ash is also influenced by thermodynamic properties such as temperature and pressure. In an exothermic reaction, where heat is released, the high temperatures can cause the ash particles to fuse together, resulting in a more solid and dense texture. On the other hand, in an endothermic reaction, where heat is absorbed, the ash particles may be more loose and powdery.

In conclusion, the physics behind ash formation is a combination of chemical reactions, composition of the material being burned, and thermodynamic properties. The unique texture and appearance of different types of ash can be attributed to these factors. Further research and experimentation can provide a more in-depth understanding of this complex process.