Combustion Reactions

combustion Reaction

Oxygen combines with another substance (usually hydrocarbon) and releases energy in the form of heat and light.

hydrocarbon

a compound that is composed only of the elements carbon and hydrogen

complete combustion

A fuel burns in the presence of sufficient oxygen, producing ONLY carbon dioxide, water

incomplete reaction

a fuel burns in limited oxygen which can produce carbon monoxide, carbon (soot), and water

note:

when balancing incomplete combustion reactions, you can literally have so much solutions if you have multiple carbon compounds as products. however if provided with ONE carbon compound as a product, there’s only one possible solution; as is with complete reactions.

methane

CH4 fuel used for heating and cooking

ethane

C2H6 raw material used for making plastics

propane

C3H8 fuel used for heating and cooking

butane

C4H8 fuel used in lighters; propellant

acetylene (ethyne)

C2H2 fuel used for welding

benzene

C2H12 used in the manufacture of paints, plastics, and detergents

the presence of how much _______ determines whether the combustion reaction is ________ or _________ as the _____ atoms and hydrogen atoms combine with ________ to form molecules of _____ _____ and _______ vapour

oxygen, complete, incomplete, carbon, oxygen, carbon dioxide, water