Question

In a chemistry lab, a laboratory assistant by mistake placed one currency note with denomination of 100 on the desk and some amount of alcohol fell on it. The currency not was completely wet with alcohol. In order to dry it he immediately brought a burning match stick and exposed the currency note to its flame. Immediately the currency caught fire. But after few seconds, firs was put off by him and the note remained intact. Explain.

Answer 1

Currency notes are made up of thick papers and the ignition tepmperature of this type of paper is higher than the ordinary paper. When currency notes is soaked in alcohol, which has low ignition temperature and high volatility it vapourises and burns before the ignition temperature of the paper is reached. Hence, the currency note does not burn.