Combustion Reactions

Physical Science 20
 COMBUSTION REACTIONS

▪ We usually think of combustion reactions as being a reaction

between an organic compound (CxHx) and oxygen (O2) to
produce water (H2O) and Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

Skeleton:
CxHx + O2 -> H2O + CO2
This is correct…. BUT….

▪ This is only half the picture!

▪ This skeleton is the skeleton for COMPLETE

COMBUSTION reactions
Remember…
Since the air around us
is actually only about
21% oxygen, a large
volume of air is needed
for complete
combustion to occur.

Fun fact : The air around

us is made up primarily
of Nitrogen!!! (LIKE
79% Nitrogen!!) –
crazy.. I know.
 Complete combustion
▪ Complete combustion occurs if there is enough oxygen (air) for the organic
compound to react with
▪ Complete combustion is an exothermic reaction that releases energy as
heat and light (flames are hot and bright!)
▪ Complete combustion releases the maximum amount of heat!
▪ Complete combustion is characterized by BLUE FLAMES!

Has anyone ever told you that blue flames are hotter? This is why! Maximum
heat released because there IS enough oxygen in the reaction
 Incomplete Combustion

▪ Incomplete combustion is also a reaction between oxygen and an

organic compound but the products are carbon monoxide, water
and carbon.

▪ Skeleton: CxHx+ O2 -> CO + H2O + C

▪ This occurs when there is not a sufficient supply of oxygen (air)

Incomplete Combustion

▪ Incomplete combustion is often undesirable because it

releases less energy (not as hot) than complete
combustion and produces carbon monoxide which is a
poisonous gas.
▪ Incomplete combustion can also produce pure carbon
(soot) which is messy and can build up in equipment. (ie:
chimneys)
▪ Incomplete combustion is characterized by an ORANGE
coloured flame.
Use of incomplete combustion

▪ Humans use incomplete combustion to their

advantage!
▪ Smoking meat!
– When wood is burned with low oxygen, a large
amount of smoke is produced which dehydrates
the meat
 Other uses…

▪ Gasification is the process of incompletely

combusting wood or coal to produce flammable
gasses (CO and H2) that can be used as a fuel.
▪ During World War II, a shortage gasoline and
diesel fuel led many people, and even militaries,
to convert vehicles to run on wood gas.
▪ By 1945, over one million vehicles worldwide
had been converted to run on wood gas,
including over 500 000 in Germany.