Question

Define the following terms: Combustion.

Answer 1

• Combustion: Combustion is a chemical process in which a substance combines with oxygen present in the air to produce new substances and release energy in the form of heat and light.
• Any substance that is burned in the air to give out heat and light is called fuel.
• Fuels burn in the presence of oxygen to produce carbon dioxide and water vapour as by-products and release energy in the form of heat and light.

$\mathrm{Fuel}+\mathrm{Oxygen}\stackrel{\mathrm{heat}}{\to }\mathrm{Carbon}\mathrm{dioxide}+\mathrm{Water}\mathrm{vapour}+\mathrm{Energy}$

• The energy produced during the combustion or burning of fuels is used to cook food, run automobiles, produce energy in industries and for various other purposes.