Ohio Volunteer Firefighter Practice Exam

The term that accurately describes the minimum temperature a substance must reach to ignite is known as ignition temperature. This is the specific temperature at which a material will spontaneously ignite in air without the need for an external ignition source. Understanding the ignition temperature is crucial for fire safety and prevention since it helps firefighters and safety personnel assess the risks associated with various materials.

While the flash point refers to the lowest temperature at which a substance can give off enough vapor to ignite when exposed to a flame or spark, it does not represent the temperature at which the substance will continuously burn without an external flame. The combustion temperature typically indicates the range where a chemical reaction occurs, which may not necessarily lead to ignition. The fire point is similar to the flash point but refers to the temperature at which sustained combustion can occur. All these terms are related, but ignition temperature specifically indicates the threshold for spontaneous ignition.