[Desdemona]

Now, wait a second...gas won't burn if it's inert. Oxygen burns, but I don't think it does if it's part of a molecule. And if the bond is strong enough, it won't break off...Man, it's been a long time since I thought about chemistry. I could be totally screwing this up.

[from occupied ga]

I could be totally screwing this up

Yes, you are. Oxygen does not burn. It supports combustion. The definition of burning is for the fuel to combine with oxygen and give off energy (heat). For combustion to occur you need three things: 1. fuel 2. oxygen and 3. temperature high enough to overcome activation energy. Take away any of these three and the fire goes out. Halon works by displacing air (oxygen source) no oxygen, no fire.