Flammability facts for kids

The symbol for flammable objects

Flammability means how easily something can catch fire and burn. If something is flammable, it means it will burn quickly and easily. The words "flammable" and "inflammable" actually mean the same thing! They both come from a Latin word, in-flammare, which means "to set on fire."

Understanding Flammability

Many people get confused by the word "inflammable." They might think it means "not flammable" because the word part "in-" often means "not" (like "invisible" means "not visible"). However, in this case, "inflammable" means the exact opposite – it means "burns easily." Because of this confusion, you'll usually see "flammable" used on warning labels in public places to make sure everyone understands the danger.

How Flammability is Measured

Scientists and engineers can test how flammable different materials are. They do this to make sure products are safe and to understand how fires might spread.

Examples of Flammable Materials

Some things are much more flammable than others. For example:

• Paper is quite flammable. It catches fire easily and burns fast.
• Wood is less flammable than paper. It takes more heat to ignite and burns slower.
• Natural gas is very flammable. It can ignite with just a small spark and burn very quickly.

Understanding flammability is important for safety. It helps us know which materials to be careful with and how to prevent fires.

Images for kids

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  DIN4102 Flammability Class B1 Vertical Shaft Furnace at Technische Universität Braunschweig, Germany

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  Sample Holder for DIN4102 Flammability Class B1 Vertical Shaft Furnace

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  German test apparatus for determining combustibility at Technische Universität Braunschweig