What is combustion?

Burning a substance in oxygen. When burning a hydrocarbon, the products of combustion are always carbon dioxide and water.

• Combustion is the name given to reactions where a fuel combines with oxygen.
• A complete combustion occurs when there is a sufficient supply of oxygen in the air:
• Carbon and hydrogen atoms in the hydrocarbon fuel react with oxygen in an exothermic reaction: carbon dioxide and water are produced-> energy is given out.
• Incomplete combustion will result in the production of carbon monoxide (which is poisonous) and it will give out LESS energy than complete combustion due to the insufficient supply of oxygen.

Combustion is a reaction between a fuel and oxygen. If the fuel is a hydrocarbon it releases carbon dioxide and water. Incomplete combustion releases carbon monoxide instead of carbon dioxide. This releases less energy and is carried by the haemaglobin in red blood cells in preference to oxygen.

Combustion is a reaction between a fuel and oxygen in the air. It is the scientific word for the process of 'burning'. A complete combustion releases carbon dioxide. An incomplete combustion releases carbon monoxide instead.

Combustion is the the burning of a substance in oxygen and results in the production of heat.

Combustion is a process in which a substance react with oxygen to give off heat.