Can underground tanks of gasoline sustain combustion?

Can underground tanks of gasoline sustain combustion?

• A. Yes
• B. No
• C. Only if they are full
• D. Only if they contain vapors

Answer: (B)

Gasoline stored in underground tanks is designed to minimize risks associated with combustion. One of the primary safety measures is that these tanks are usually filled with liquid gasoline, which does not ignite easily compared to gasoline vapors. When gasoline is underground, it is not in direct contact with air, which is necessary for combustion to occur. Combustion requires three elements: fuel, oxygen, and an ignition source. Since these underground tanks are typically sealed, the oxygen component is limited or absent, thus reducing the likelihood of combustion. Even though gasoline can produce vapors that are flammable, the conditions within an underground tank are not conducive to allowing those vapors to accumulate in sufficient quantities to ignite. Therefore, underground tanks are considered to have a lower risk of sustaining combustion compared to above-ground settings where vapors are more likely to come into contact with an ignition source. This reasoning underpins why stating that underground tanks of gasoline cannot sustain combustion is accurate.

Gasoline stored in underground tanks is designed to minimize risks associated with combustion. One of the primary safety measures is that these tanks are usually filled with liquid gasoline, which does not ignite easily compared to gasoline vapors.

When gasoline is underground, it is not in direct contact with air, which is necessary for combustion to occur. Combustion requires three elements: fuel, oxygen, and an ignition source. Since these underground tanks are typically sealed, the oxygen component is limited or absent, thus reducing the likelihood of combustion.

Even though gasoline can produce vapors that are flammable, the conditions within an underground tank are not conducive to allowing those vapors to accumulate in sufficient quantities to ignite. Therefore, underground tanks are considered to have a lower risk of sustaining combustion compared to above-ground settings where vapors are more likely to come into contact with an ignition source.

This reasoning underpins why stating that underground tanks of gasoline cannot sustain combustion is accurate.