Hydrogen is an explosive gas, and oxygen supports combustion? How is it possible, then, for water, which is composed of hydrogen and oxygen, to put out fires?

Question

anonymous · Answer

its not hydrogen and oxygen that supports combustion. its carbon dioxide and oxygen.

unklerhaukus · Answer

hydrogen burns, burning is combining with oxygen, the result is water. All the chemical potential for the the oxygen and hydrogen have been released in the burning process as energy. 
 $$2H _{2 (gas)}+O _{2 (gas)}\rightarrow2H _{2}O _{(gas)} + ENERGY _{Bang}$$ 
to have the arrow go the other way would require the same energy,