Which fiber, when burnt, gives off an odor like burning paper?

The fiber that emits an odor similar to burning paper when burned is cotton. This is primarily due to its natural composition. Cotton is derived from the cotton plant, which is a cellulose-based fiber. When cellulose burns, it produces a smell reminiscent of burning plant material, which is often likened to the odor of burning paper.

In contrast, the other fibers listed have different burning characteristics and odors. Wool, for instance, produces a smell like burning hair due to its protein structure. Acrylic, being a synthetic fiber, tends to melt rather than burn cleanly, giving off a chemical smell. Olefin, another synthetic fiber, has a low melting point and will also burn with a different odor that is not similar to paper. Understanding the characteristics of these fibers helps in identifying them by smell when they are exposed to heat or flame, which is useful knowledge in carpet cleaning and material identification.