Question

What is combustion? Describe the combustion of cellulose by giving a balanced equation for this reaction?

Answer 1

Part 1:

1. The chemical reaction of oxidation or burning of a substance that gives heat and light in the form of flam is termed as combustion.
2. It is a chemical process.

Part 2:

1. Cellulose is a carbohydrate that is present in paper, cotton, etc.
2. Cellulose undergoes combustion to form Carbon dioxide and Water.
3. The balanced chemical equation for this reaction is,

$\underset{\mathrm{cellulose}}{{\left({\mathrm{C}}_6{\mathrm{H}}_{10}{\mathrm{O}}_5\right)}_{\mathrm{n}}}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+\underset{\mathrm{Oxygen}}{6{\mathrm{nO}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}\to \underset{\mathrm{Carbon}\mathrm{dioxide}}{6{\mathrm{nCO}}_2(\mathrm{g}})+5{\mathrm{nH}}_2\mathrm{O}(\mathrm{g})+\mathrm{Heat}+\mathrm{Light}$