1. A large container of gasoline is recovered from the walk-in freezer at a restaurant owned by an arson suspect. The gasoline temperature is found to be -10 degrees Fahrenheit. The suspect claims this gasoline would be too cold to have been used as an accelerant in the arson. Describe the difference between flash point and ignition temperature and use this information to explain whether the suspect’s claim is true or untrue.
Flash point of volatile material is the lowest temperature at which liquid gives off enough vapours that can then be ignited using an external source.
On the other hand, ignition point is the lowest temperature at which the material ignites on its own without using any external source. Hence, it is also known as autoignition temperature.
For a fuel material, it is desirable to have a low flash point for easy combustion, while having a sufficiently high ignition temperature for safety in storage and transport.
Gasoline's flash point is -45°F ,hence gasoline at -10° F could be used by the arsonist easily. Hence, his claim is untrue.
1. A large container of gasoline is recovered from the walk-in freezer at a restaurant owned...