When pure oxygen is combined with fuel gases, the pure oxygen produces _____.

When pure oxygen is combined with fuel gases, it results in a high-temperature flame needed for flame cutting. This high-temperature flame is essential for effective cutting processes, as it can reach much greater temperatures than flames produced with atmospheric air. The increased oxygen concentration allows for more efficient combustion of the fuel gases, leading to a hotter flame. This is particularly important in applications such as metal cutting and welding, where extremely high temperatures are required to melt or cut metals.

In contrast, a stable flame typically refers to a flame that burns steadily without excessive flickering or instability, which can occur with air-fuel mixtures but is not necessarily the result of pure oxygen. A low-temperature flame would not suffice for flame cutting, as the temperatures would not be high enough to effectively melt or cut materials. Lastly, smoke and fume generation would be more associated with incomplete combustion or the burning of certain materials, rather than a product of the pure oxygen and fuel gas combination. Thus, the correct response highlights the critical role of pure oxygen in achieving the high temperatures necessary for flame cutting.