- #1
jd12345
- 256
- 2
What is combustion - is it any reaction that produces energy? Or is it an exothermic reaction involving oxygen?
jd12345 said:What is combustion - is it any reaction that produces energy? Or is it an exothermic reaction involving oxygen?
Combustion is a chemical reaction that releases heat and light, usually accompanied by the production of flame, in which a substance reacts rapidly with oxygen and gives off heat.
Combustion occurs when a fuel (such as wood, gasoline, or natural gas) reacts with oxygen in the air to produce heat energy. This reaction is usually initiated by a source of heat, such as a spark, flame, or high temperature.
The products of combustion depend on the specific fuel and the conditions of the reaction, but typically include carbon dioxide, water vapor, and various other gases. Incomplete combustion can also produce carbon monoxide and other harmful byproducts.
Combustion is an exothermic reaction, meaning it releases heat energy. This is because the reactants (fuel and oxygen) contain more energy than the products (carbon dioxide, water, etc.), and the excess energy is released as heat and light.
Combustion is used in a variety of ways in everyday life, such as in transportation (internal combustion engines), cooking (burning gas or wood for heat), and electricity generation (burning coal or natural gas to power turbines). It is also a key process in industrial manufacturing, such as in the production of steel and other metals.