Can Fire Burn When There’s No Oxygen?

Yes, fire can burn without oxygen. While oxygen is an important oxidizing agent for combustion, it is not the only one. There are alternative oxidizers such as chlorine, fluorine, and bromine that can also support burning.

Furthermore, monopropellants and hypergolic combinations do not require an external oxidizer for combustion. Nuclear reactions, such as those that power the sun, also produce heat and light similar to fire and do not require oxygen. In this video, we'll explore the details behind the common question of whether fire can occur from non-oxygenated reactions.