Combustion Reaction
Definition
A combustion reaction is a reaction in which a substance reacts with oxygen gas, releasing energy in the form of light and heat. Combustion reactions must involve O2 as one reactant. The combustion of hydrogen gas produces water vapour.
Carbon, in all its allotropic forms, burns in oxygen to give carbon dioxide along with the release of heat and light. Most carbon compounds also release a large amount of heat and light on burning. These are the
oxidation reactions that you learnt about in the first Chapter –
(i) C + O2 → CO2 + heat and light
(ii) CH4 + O2 → CO2 + H2O + heat and light
(iii) CH3CH2OH + O2 → CO2 + H2O + heat and light