The fact that the earth does not go up in flames in spite of the richness of oxygen in our environment is related to which of the following concepts?
A) the activation energy needed to break bonds
B) the fact that reactants always have less energy than products
C) the first law of thermodynamics
D) the second law of thermodynamics
E) the abundance of water in our atmosphere, which inhibits combustion

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The presence of oxygen alone is not enough to initiate combustion; a certain amount of energy, known as the activation energy, is required to break the chemical bonds and start a reaction. This concept explains why the Earth does not spontaneously combust despite the high levels of oxygen in the atmosphere.

The Fact That the Earth Does Not Go Up in Flames