Answer to Question #44693 in Inorganic Chemistry for zeph

Question

You are presented with identical metal containers of about 5 liters capacity each about half full of fuel. The containers have short neck and are normally closed by screw cap of about 30mm diameter. The cans contain
1. petrol(gasoline, flaspoint-43 degree Celsius.)
2. methyl alcohol (methanol, flashpoint 11 degree Celsius.)
3. paraffin (keresone, flashpoint 50 degree Celsius.)

Explain concisely what would happen if top was taken off and a lit match was immediately dropped in the head space of each can. Assume the ambient temperature and thus that of liquid is 15 degree Celsius.