Combustion of carbon compounds

The idea

Carbon in all its allotropic forms burns in oxygen to give carbon dioxide with heat and light, and most carbon compounds also release a large amount of heat and light on burning; these are oxidation reactions.

Glowing and burning

Charcoal, a candle and the gas in a stove all burn and give out heat. Most fuels we use are carbon or its compounds.

What gas do you think forms when carbon burns completely in oxygen?

• Carbon dioxide
• Hydrogen
• Nitrogen

Burning carbon and its compounds

Press Next step. The equations are balanced: the numbers of atoms on both sides are equal.

Burning is oxidation

Whatever the carbon compound, burning in enough oxygen gives carbon dioxide (and water if hydrogen is present), with heat and light.

Carbon in all its allotropic forms burns in oxygen to give carbon dioxide with heat and light, and most carbon compounds also release a large amount of heat and light on burning. These are oxidation reactions.

• Burning | Products
• carbon | carbon dioxide, heat and light
• methane | carbon dioxide, water, heat and light
• ethanol | carbon dioxide, water, heat and light

Notes

Carbon in all its allotropic forms burns in oxygen to give carbon dioxide with heat and light, and most carbon compounds also release a large amount of heat and light on burning. These are oxidation reactions.

Check yourself

What does carbon, in all its allotropic forms, give when it burns in oxygen?

What type of reaction is the burning of carbon compounds?

Ethanol, CH₃CH₂OH, burns in oxygen. What are the products?

What is released when most carbon compounds burn?

• Carbon dioxide, with heat and light — correct. Yes!
• Carbon and water. Carbon is the substance that burns. It combines with oxygen to give carbon dioxide.
• Hydrogen and oxygen. Carbon dioxide forms when carbon burns in oxygen.
• An addition reaction. An addition reaction is when an unsaturated hydrocarbon adds hydrogen. Burning is an oxidation reaction.
• An oxidation reaction — correct. Yes!
• A substitution reaction. A substitution reaction is when one atom or group takes the place of another. Burning is an oxidation reaction.
• Only carbon dioxide. Ethanol contains hydrogen, and its burning also gives water.
• Only water. Ethanol contains carbon, and its burning also gives carbon dioxide.
• Carbon dioxide and water, with heat and light — correct. Yes!
• A large amount of heat and light — correct. Yes!
• Only a little energy. Most carbon compounds release a large amount of heat and light on burning.
• Cold and darkness. Burning releases heat and light.