What do oxidizers do?

Oxidizers are substances that can promote or accelerate the combustion of other materials by generating oxygen or other oxidizing species. This capability makes them essential in various chemical reactions and applications, particularly in the context of fires and explosions. By providing additional oxygen, oxidizers can enhance the intensity and speed of combustion, making them important in both industrial processes and safety considerations.

While some oxidizers can produce smoke due to the materials they combust or the reactions they undergo, this is not their primary characteristic. Additionally, not all oxidizers are flammable; in fact, many oxidizers are themselves non-flammable and can even be considered hazardous due to their ability to support combustion. Deflagration refers to a type of combustion that occurs at subsonic speeds and, while some oxidizers may cause deflagration in certain contexts, this is not a defining feature of all oxidizers. Overall, the primary role of oxidizers is to facilitate combustion by generating oxygen, which is why the correct understanding of their function centers around their ability to generate oxygen for combustion.