Combustion

Learning Objectives

  • understand what combustion is and how to write balance chemical equations for combustion

Summary Notes

What is Combustion?

  • Combustion is another name for burning something

  • The reaction is a hydrocarbon plus oxygen equalling water plus carbon dioxide.

Butane is the gas burning when a lighter is ignited (Pixabay License)

How do you balance a Combustion reaction?

  1. Balance the carbon and hydrogen atoms on both sides of the reaction.

  2. Balance the oxygen atoms.

  3. Balance anything else that has become unbalanced

Video to help build your understanding

What is Combustion

How to balance combustion reactions

Practice Material