What is Soot?
Soot is a fine black to brown powder which is formed through incomplete combustion. The process of partial combustion also makes soot slightly sticky, and it can be found clinging to things like chimneys and exhaust pipes as a result. In addition to being a byproduct of the combustion process, soot can also be useful; it has been utilized for centuries as a source of pigment for inks and dyes, for example. Many consumers are familiar with some form of soot, since combustion is such a ubiquitous process in daily life. In order to form soot, an object must be burned at a comparatively low temperature with a reduced supply of oxygen. As the fuel burns, it breaks up into small particles; in the right conditions, these particles include soot, which will settle out as a dark powdery deposit. For an example of soot, try holding a heat-safe glass over a lit candle for a moment; a streak of black material will appear where the flame came into contact with the glass. Soot is also called lampblac
