What term describes the lowest temperature at which oil can release sufficient vapors to ignite when exposed to flame?

• A. Boiling point
• B. Flash point
• C. Autoignition temperature
• D. Vapor point

Answer: (B)

The term that defines the lowest temperature at which oil can release sufficient vapors to ignite when exposed to flame is known as the flash point. This is a critical safety parameter in handling and storing flammable liquids, as it indicates the temperature at which the vapors can form an ignitable mixture with air.

At or above the flash point, the vapors produced can ignite if there is an appropriate ignition source nearby, such as an open flame or spark. Knowing the flash point helps in assessing fire hazards associated with different oils and ensures that they are handled at temperatures below this critical threshold to maintain safety.

While terms like boiling point, autoignition temperature, and vapor point are related to the behavior of substances at elevated temperatures, they do not specifically refer to the point at which enough vapor is available for ignition, making flash point the precise and applicable term in this context.