Accelerant

An accelerant is any substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction. In common usage, the term often refers to materials used to speed up the spread of fire. These substances are typically highly flammable liquids or solids that ignite easily and burn at high temperatures, helping to spread a fire rapidly from one point to another. Common examples include gasoline, kerosene, paint thinner, and charcoal lighter fluid.

Accelerants are frequently encountered in fire investigation. Forensic scientists analyze fire debris to detect the presence of accelerants, which can help determine if a fire was intentionally set. The detection methods involve techniques such as gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), which can identify even trace amounts of accelerant residues.

Beyond fire, accelerants have applications in various industrial and scientific processes. For instance, in chemical manufacturing, catalysts are a type of accelerant that speeds up desired reactions without being consumed themselves. In everyday life, a simple example is adding a pinch of baking soda to vinegar; the baking soda acts as an accelerant, causing a more vigorous fizzing reaction. The understanding and identification of accelerants are crucial in fields ranging from public safety and criminal justice to chemical engineering and material science.