Question

Why is it so easy to get oxygen to dissociate to form water? (Reference the Hindenburg disaster.)

Answer 1

Hydrogen burns in oxygen to make water.

2H2(g) + O2(g) --> 2H2O(g)

But, it's water vapor. When the Hindenburg burned it rained little crispy hindenburgers, but not water. The burning of the airship was hot enough to keep the water vapor in the vapor phase.

The Hindenburg was attempting to land as a storm was winding down so there was natural rain falling at the time at . The water from the burning hydrogen would have been indistinguishable from the natural water in the air.