Combustion
What is Combustion?
• A combustion reaction occurs when a substance reacts with oxygen
and heat is released.
• Common combustion reactions are:
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Burning wood
A gas stove
A candle burning
Fireworks
A rocket being launched
Combustion triangle
• In order for a combustion reaction to occur, three things must be
present:
• Fuel
• Heat
• Oxygen
• If any one of these three elements is removed, the reaction will stop.
What are some ways we can stop a
combustion reaction?
Combustion
triangle
Fossil Fuels
• Fossil fuels are formed from the remains of living things.
• Some fossil fuels are natural gas, coal, and oil.
• All fossil fuels contain carbon and hydrogen and are called
hydrocarbons
Complete combustion
• When combustion of a hydrocarbon occurs in an excess of oxygen,
complete combustion usually occurs.
• The products of complete combustion are carbon dioxide and water.
hydrocarbon + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water
Incomplete combustion
• When combustion of a hydrocarbon occurs without a sufficient supply
of oxygen, incomplete combustion usually occurs.
• The products of incomplete combustion are carbon, carbon dioxide,
carbon monoxide and water.
hydrocarbon + oxygen → carbon + carbon dioxide + carbon monoxide + water