What is the lowest temperature at which a liquid or solid produces enough flammable vapor to burn briefly?

The flash point is defined as the lowest temperature at which a liquid or solid can generate enough vapor to ignite briefly when exposed to an open flame or spark. It is a crucial characteristic in assessing the flammability and safety of materials, especially in firefighting and hazardous material handling.

Understanding the flash point is essential for fire safety, as it helps firefighters identify the risk of combustion in various environments. Materials with low flash points can ignite easily at lower temperatures, making them particularly hazardous in fire scenarios.

In contrast, the ignition point typically refers to the temperature at which a substance catches fire and sustains combustion, while the fire point is often slightly higher than the flash point, indicating the temperature at which a material can continue to burn after being ignited. The term "burn temperature" does not specifically refer to a recognized scientific measurement in fire dynamics. Thus, flash point is the most accurate term when discussing the conditions necessary for a substance to emit flammable vapors.