Cremation reduces human remains to basic elements through the use of what?

Cremation primarily relies on flame and heat to reduce human remains to basic elements. During the cremation process, intense heat generated by the flames causes the organic materials in the body to vaporize and oxidize. This high-temperature environment breaks down tissues and bones, resulting in the conversion of various substances into gases and ash.

Vaporization also plays a key role since it facilitates the transformation of liquid components and moisture within the remains into vapor, which is then released into the atmosphere. The combination of flame and the heat generated is essential to achieve the necessary temperatures (typically between 1400 to 1800 degrees Fahrenheit) required for cremation.

In contrast, while water and chemicals, oxygen and nitrogen, as well as sulfur and carbon can all be found in biological materials, they do not specifically describe the primary processes involved in cremation, making them less relevant in this context.