The Science Behind the Samsung Galaxy Note 7's Battery Fires
The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is suffering the same fate as countless
hoverboards — there are reports that some phones have been bursting into
flames, prompting Samsung is issue a recall and the U.S. Federal
Aviation Administration to strongly discourage passengers from carrying
the device on planes, news sources report.Why is this smartphone such a fire hazard? The answer has to do with its lithium-ion battery, a common power source that isn't just used in cellphones but also in computers, power tools and toys. [9 Odd Ways Your Tech Device May Injure You]
Lithium, the third element on the period table, is a silver-white metal
that can catch fire when exposed to oxygen or water, Lloyd Gordon, the
chief electrical safety officer at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New
Mexico, told Live Science last year.
