What is a Combustion Reaction ?
(It is a reaction between a compound and oxygen, heat, and light. Combustion reactions also are known as burning.) • Why do alkanes make good fuels? (They undergo combustion reactions to release a great deal of energy.) Have students watch or show them the visual presentation of hydrocarbon combustion at Combustion of Hydrocarbons. To help them understand that energy is released in this type of reaction, use burning wood as an example. Wood, as living matter, is composed mostly of carbon and is thus categorized as an organic substance. When it burns, it must do so in the presence of oxygen and heat is produced. When reviewing combustion reactions, you may want to remind students that inorganic substances can also combust with oxygen, such as the element magnesium. In these cases, carbon dioxide is not produced. Ask students: What are some sources of hydrocarbons that we use to chemically produce energy? Students may list sources such as coal, natural gas, gasoline, oil, crude oil, petr
A combustion reaction takes place when a fuel and an oxidant react, producing heat or heat and light. The most recognizable form of combustion reaction is flame, with explosions being an even faster form of combustion reaction. A combustion can happen at a wide range of speeds, and can occur in many different environments, but the majority of combustions we know and recognize happen in a fairly limited spectrum. Often in our world a combustion reaction takes place with a fuel source that is a carbon compound of some sort. Wood is an obvious example of a combustion fuel, as it is burned commonly to create fire for heating spaces or generating heat energy for other purposes. When wood combusts, it is a far from complete reaction, and so leaves behind soot, which is unburned carbon, as well as various carbon compounds. Nitrogen may also be oxidized by the air, creating nitrogen oxides. Fire burning is an example of a rapid combustion reaction, but it is a somewhat slow reaction nonetheles
