The rate of combustion of wood is most directly related to which factor?

The rate of combustion of wood is most directly related to surface area. When wood burns, the combustion process requires a reaction between the fuel (wood) and oxygen. The larger the surface area of the wood that is exposed to oxygen, the more readily it can ignite and sustain combustion.

When wood is cut into smaller pieces or has its surface roughened, the available surface area increases. This allows more oxygen to come into contact with the wood, facilitating quicker and more intense burning. Therefore, surface area significantly impacts the speed at which wood burns and the overall combustion rate.

While factors such as age, the use of adhesives, and volatility can influence combustion characteristics, they do not have the same direct and immediate effect on the rate of combustion as surface area does. Age can affect the moisture content and density of the wood, adhesives could potentially alter combustion properties depending on their composition, and volatility generally relates to how readily a substance gives off vapors that can ignite, but these factors are secondary in terms of their influence on the combustion rate compared to surface area.