What is the fire point of a liquid?

The fire point of a liquid is defined as the temperature at which the mixture's surface will ignite and sustain burning when exposed to an ignition source. This is a critical concept in fire safety and flammable liquids handling, as understanding the fire point helps in assessing the fire hazard associated with different liquids.

At the fire point, there are sufficient vapors produced from the liquid that, when mixed with air, can ignite and continue to burn. This distinguishes the fire point from other temperature terms related to combustible materials, such as the flash point, which refers to the temperature where enough vapors are present to ignite momentarily.

In terms of context regarding the other options, the first option relates more to the flash point rather than the fire point. The third option describes the evaporation process, which does not directly indicate anything about ignition or combustion. The fourth option pertains to the solidification of a liquid and has no relevance to ignition at elevated temperatures. Understanding the fire point is essential for ensuring safety and taking appropriate precautions when handling and storing flammable liquids.