The explosive limit of a
gas or a
vapour, is the limiting
concentration (in air) that is needed for the gas to ignite and
explode. There are two explosive limits for any gas or vapor, the lower explosive limit (LEL) and the upper explosive limit (UEL). At concentrations in air below the LEL there is not enough fuel to continue an explosion; at concentrations above the UEL the fuel has displaced so much air that there is not enough
oxygen to begin a reaction. Concentrations of explosive gases are often given in terms of percent of lower explosive limit (%LEL).
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The concentration of a compound in air below which the mixture will not catch on fire.