Why is there “fire” on the Sun if there is no oxygen in its atmosphere?

If we look away Sun from the surface of the Earth, or even if we look at pictures taken by satellites and telescopes, his appearance in the boat will soon resemble ball on fire. However, this seems contradictory since there is no oxygen in the Sun and we know that this gas is necessary for combustion to occur, which would be a necessary reaction for fire to occur on the Sun.

This is a question that many people often ask themselves. How can there be fire on the Sun if no oxygen to ignite it? Well, the short answer to this question is that what actually holds the sun included This is not fire.

This is a reaction known as thermonuclear reaction, in which the nuclei of two light atoms fuse to form a heavier one. In the case of the Sun, the fuel is hydrogen. That is, their nuclei merge to form a new element: helium. This is a reaction that generates a lot of energy, which is why we get the feeling that there is fire on the Sun. But nothing could be further from the truth.

Why can’t there be fire on the Sun?

Fire, as we understand it on Earth, is the result of a reaction combustion. This occurs when a fuel, usually a hydrocarbon, reacts with oxygen, releasing energy, carbon dioxide and water vapor.

For one of these reactions to occur and create a flame, at least 16% oxygen is required, and Earth is the only known place in the Universe where this can occur. In fact, our atmosphere has 21% oxygenso there’s a lot of room for combustion.

Of course it should be available and adequate conditions. But at least we know it’s possible. This is not the case on the Sun.

What kind of flame is this?

We have already seen that the energy of the Sun, like the energy of other stars, is generated through nuclear fusion. However, if we look at the Sun, it seems that there is a flame burning there, like bonfire. In fact, although this phenomenon is known as Solar flareit is also sometimes called a solar flare.

In fact, these are very intense bursts of energy. They occur when electromagnetic energy stored on the surface of the Sun is suddenly released. Fire is also a product excellent energy releasebut these are different phenomena, although they have a similar appearance.

In fact, a solar flare is a much more energetic and explosive phenomenon than a fire. Fortunately for those of us who live on Earth.

In conclusion: no, there is no fire on the Sun. We see light and heat is released due to the release of energy, but this has nothing to do with fire, no matter how much it reminds us of the radiation of energy that is observed during combustion.