Ask AI: Does water burn

Water itself does not burn. Burning, or combustion, typically involves a chemical reaction between a substance and oxygen that releases energy in the form of heat and light. Water is actually a product of the combustion of hydrogen. When hydrogen gas (H₂) burns in the presence of oxygen (O₂), water (H₂O) is formed. Because water is already the "burnt" product of hydrogen and oxygen, it is in a very low-energy, stable state and does not have the capacity to undergo further combustion. Instead of burning, when water is exposed to very high temperatures, it may undergo a process like evaporation, turning into water vapor, but it will not combust or catch fire.