Thermochemistry during combustion

[Randi Ruelas 1G]

When we are talking about a combustion reaction of a gas, are we always adding an O2 reactant that will always produce H2O?

[BrittneyMyint1D]

Hi, yes in combustion we have O2 as a reactant and the products will be CO2 and H2O.

[Sera Aintablian 2E]

The general equation for a complete combustion reaction is:
Fuel + O2 --> CO2 + H2)0.
Combustion reactions are a type of redox reactions. The reaction is exothermic. Oxygen is a great oxidizer and plays an important role in the chemical process during combustion. When fuel burns, it reacts with oxygen from the surrounding air, releasing heat, and generating the products.

[madison_bang_1L]

It is important to note that not all combustion reactions result in CO2 and H2O (this is the case for the combustion of hydrocarbons and such). As Professor Lavelle outlined in the lecture, if the fuel that is being combusted contains any additional elements (other than C, H, and O), then the products will also contain those additional elements. An example of this is the combustion of metal sulfides.

[Elena Chan 2L]

Hi! You can think of combustion as burning where it will need some flammable fuel to quickly combine with O2 releasing CO2 and H2O. Most times, the fuels are hydrocarbons that are composed of C and H so the products will be CO2 and H20 usually. It releases heat and energy and requires oxygen to happen. When there isn't enough oxygen and there is incomplete combustion, carbon monoxide, a dangerous and deadly gas, can form instead.

[Jeffrey Yang 3I]

I think the components necessary for combustion usually can be defined as 1) fuel 2) air/oxygen 3) heat. Fuel can be many different compounds, but usually, C and H are included in these compounds. Some oxidizer is required, and this may not always be O2. In some cases, Chlorine and fluorine and oxidize compounds too during combustion.

[Lesley Kim 1K]

Yes! O2 is necessary in order for combustion to take place. As a result, H2O (and CO2 usually, but not always) will always be a product of combustion reactions.

[Divya Mehta 2K]

Yup! A combustion reaction means O2 is a reactant and the products are both CO2 and H2O.