Question

Iron does not burn but iron fillings do. Why?

Answer 1

•The surface area of the fillings is much more than a block of iron.
•The heat supplied to the iron fillings does not have a way to distribute itself through conduction, like in iron block, as the entire filling is surrounded by the flame, and thus, the iron fillings reach their ignition temperature but iron block does not

•The iron has strong force of attraction between the atoms hence it doesn't burn on heating but where as if we burn iron fillings then the flame encloses the iron fillings and force of attraction between them cannot balance the situation and hence it burns vigorously