Question

Although wood has a very high calorific value, we still discourage its use as a fuel. Explain.

Answer 1

The following reasons can be considered to discourage the use of wood as a fuel-

• It has a high ignition temperature, so the combustion process of wood would be a bit tough.
• The ignition temperature of a substance is the minimum temperature at which the substance catches fire for spontaneous combustion.
• Burning wood produces many harmful gases such as Carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO₂). Excess of both can kill a person, and it also causes increasing global warming.
• To use wood as fuel, we would have to cut trees.
• Trees are very essential for any living being.