Gasoline vapors are defined as having which combination of vapor pressure and flash point?

Gasoline vapors are defined as having which combination of vapor pressure and flash point?

• A. Low vapor pressure and high flash point
• B. High vapor pressure and high flash point
• C. High vapor pressure and low flash point
• D. Low vapor pressure and low flash point

Answer: (C)

Gasoline is extremely volatile, so its vapors form readily, giving it a high vapor pressure. Because it can form flammable vapors at relatively low temperatures, its flash point is low. The combination of high vapor pressure and low flash point means gasoline vapors can reach flammable concentrations quickly and ignite easily. A liquid with low vapor pressure wouldn’t vaporize much, and one with a high flash point would require much higher temperatures to ignite, which gasoline does not. So the best description is high vapor pressure and low flash point.

Gasoline is extremely volatile, so its vapors form readily, giving it a high vapor pressure. Because it can form flammable vapors at relatively low temperatures, its flash point is low. The combination of high vapor pressure and low flash point means gasoline vapors can reach flammable concentrations quickly and ignite easily. A liquid with low vapor pressure wouldn’t vaporize much, and one with a high flash point would require much higher temperatures to ignite, which gasoline does not. So the best description is high vapor pressure and low flash point.