As the temperature increases, what happens to the minimum ignition energy?

The minimum ignition energy (MIE) is the least amount of energy required to ignite a combustible mixture. As temperature increases, the kinetic energy of the molecules in the combustible mixture also increases. This enhanced kinetic energy means that the molecules are more likely to collide with enough force to cause ignition when they do come into contact with an ignition source.

Therefore, as temperature rises, the MIE decreases because the mixture becomes more reactive and requires less energy to ignite. This principle is critical in explosive and flammable environments, as understanding how temperature affects ignition energy helps in assessing risks and implementing safety measures. The correlation highlights the importance of temperature control and monitoring in processes involving combustible materials to prevent accidental ignition.