On Thu, 22 May 2008 15:21:41 -0700 (PDT),
wrote:

On May 22, 5:53*pm, George wrote:

Exactly, the perfect example is to consider what is actually happening
when you squeeze the lever on a cutting torch.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -


That, imho, is a perfect example of melting, not "burning"

http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasc...6/gen06008.htm

Reference aside, do you know what cutting torch is how it works?

A cutting torch *burns* the steel using a stream of oxygen that is
triggered by the lever, though the steel must be hot enough that it
will burn first. However, not all the steel is burned, some does fly
off as molten metal.


Melting a material changes its state. The state can be restored by
lowering its temperature.

Burning a material changes the material's composition usually
combining it with oxygen to form a new substance (iron oxide, for
exmaple) Once a material is burned lowering its temperature won't
restore it.