Old pine stumps are dug up, split into pieces and sold as "fatwood". Fatwood is used as a fire starter. Why is this done?

Question

A.  The wood in the stumps is porous and dry, thus it burns easily.
B.  The high concentration of volatile organic compounds makes the wood flammable.
C.  Pine bark does not absorb water and is flammable.

Clarify Question
What is the key concept addressed by the question?

  Gather Content
What do you already know about pine? What other information is related to the question?
 
Choose Answer
Given what you now know, what information is most likely to produce the correct answer?
 
Reflect on Process
Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?

Answer 1

B.  The high concentration of volatile organic compounds makes the wood flammable.

Clarify Question
What is the key concept addressed by the question?
        · This question is asking about the logic of using old pine stumps as fire starters.
What type of thinking is required?
        · Apply level:
            o You are being asked to take what you already know and use, or apply, it to the reason for the flammability of fat wood.

  Gather Content
What do you already know about pine? What other information is related to the question?
        · The resin from certain pines can yield turpentine, which is a volatile liquid.
        · Turpentine is a flammable compound.
 
Choose Answer
Given what you now know, what information is most likely to produce the correct answer?
        · Pine bark is fire resistant, so that answer can be ruled out.
        · Stumps are generally the last section of a tree to dry out, so that answer can be excluded.
        · Since turpentine is flammable and since it is present in the resin of pine, old pine trunks would be good fire starters because of the presence of this volatile organic compound.
 
Reflect on Process
Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?
        · Apply level:
            o Answering this question correctly depended on your ability to use pine in a new situation. If you got an incorrect answer, did you remember that pine resin contains turpentine, or that turpentine is flammable? Did you have trouble extending the components of pine to determine the correct answer?