What are oxidizers?

Oxidizers are substances that can facilitate combustion by providing oxygen or promoting the chemical reaction necessary for combustion to occur. They do not necessarily burn themselves but instead enable other materials to ignite and sustain burning. This function is crucial in various applications, particularly in agriculture where controlled burns or certain chemical reactions may be required for land management or crop production.

In contrast, materials that are flammable ignite easily but don't inherently promote combustion in other materials. Non-reactive substances do not readily participate in chemical reactions, including those involving combustion, and therefore cannot be considered oxidizers. Lastly, materials that inhibit burning are known as flame retardants, which work against the process of combustion, making them the opposite of oxidizers. Thus, identifying oxidizers as chemicals that fuel the combustion of other materials captures their essential role in fire dynamics and chemical reactivity.