Final answer:
Oxy-propane torches can produce temperatures about 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit higher than air-propane torches due to the more efficient combustion when using pure oxygen.
Step-by-step explanation:
An oxy-propane torch can generate temperatures that are approximately 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit higher than what an air-propane torch can produce. This increased temperature is a result of the higher combustion reaction efficiency when oxygen is used instead of air. Oxygen enriches the combustion because it is a purer source of the O2 necessary for the reaction with propane (C3H8), leading to a hotter flame that is capable of achieving greater heat output.