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Ash
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<p>Ash is the solid remnants of <a href="/facts/Fire/M6XwR3am">fires</a>. Specifically, <i>ash</i> refers to all non-<a href="/facts/Aqueous/eRNr3MH2">aqueous</a>, non-<a href="/facts/Gas/hVVAoodV">gaseous</a> residues that remain after something <a href="/facts/Combustion/ohQoWj8z">burns</a>. In <a href="/facts/Analytical_chemistry/MHQf3YP6">analytical chemistry</a>, to analyse the mineral and metal content of <a href="/facts/Chemical_sample/lh2pPYky">chemical samples</a>, <a href="/facts/Ash_(analytical_chemistry)/0yldgE18">ash</a> is the non-<a href="/facts/Gas/hVVAoodV">gaseous</a>, non-<a href="/facts/Liquid/t9GkLWzt">liquid</a> residue after complete combustion. </p><p>Ashes as the end product of <a href="/facts/Incomplete_combustion/ohQoWj8z">incomplete combustion</a> are mostly <a href="/facts/Mineral/LkUFbNmv">mineral</a>, but usually still contain an amount of <a href="/facts/Combustible/1QexTQ4T">combustible</a> <a href="/facts/Organic_compound/gqCNaN45">organic</a> or other <a href="/facts/Redox/Pyd5RVcj">oxidizable</a> residues. The best-known type of ash is <a href="/facts/Wood_ash/kqm3JapS">wood ash</a>, as a product of wood combustion in <a href="/facts/Campfire/H40Dr7SP">campfires</a>, <a href="/facts/Fireplace/STRbqJqX">fireplaces</a>, etc. The darker the wood ashes, the higher the content of remaining <a href="/facts/Charcoal/tpYGBHTn">charcoal</a> from incomplete combustion. The ashes are of different types. Some ashes contain <a href="/facts/Natural_compound/J4RsVhmP">natural compounds</a> that make <a href="/facts/Soil/5Ddpr3QM">soil</a> <a href="/facts/Soil_fertility/E7ofTY0f">fertile</a>. Others have <a href="/facts/Chemical_compound/37FXqqtv">chemical compounds</a> that can be <a href="/facts/Toxic/qa96rs60">toxic</a> but may break up in soil from chemical changes and <a href="/facts/Microorganism/pysJYcE2">microorganism</a> activity. </p><p>Like <a href="/facts/Soap/99DbjMR5">soap</a>, ash is also a <a href="/facts/Disinfecting/33fF2QzG">disinfecting</a> agent (<a href="/facts/Alkaline/s6NqPGSP">alkaline</a>). The <a href="/facts/World_Health_Organization/YNN3bgug">World Health Organization</a> recommends ash or sand as alternative for <a href="/facts/Handwashing/BTgUfoRo">handwashing</a> when soap is not available. Before industrialization, ash soaked in water was the primary means of obtaining <a href="/facts/Potash/4e2vBL9L">potash</a>. </p>