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COMBUSTION AND FLAMES

Introduction
Combustion
 A chemical process in which a substance reacts with oxygen to give off heat and light is called combustion.
 The burning of wood is an example of combustion.

Combustible and Non-Combustible Substances

 Substances which easily catch fire are combustible substances, such as paper, coal, wood.
 Substances which do not catch fire readily are non-combustible substances, such as sand, water, glass.

History of Wood and Candle Flame

Fuel
 Any substance, which upon combustion produces a usable amount of energy is known as fuel. For example,
fossil fuels, biogas, nuclear energy, etc.
 Fuels can be solid, liquid or gas depending on their state.
 On the basis of their occurrence, it can be either natural or artificial.

Ignition Temp
 The lowest temperature at which a combustible substance catches fire when heated in air is called its
ignition temperature.

Inflammable Substances
The substances, which have very low ignition temperature and can easily catch fire with a flame are known as
inflammable substances. Examples: diesel, LPG, acetone.

Fire
 Fire is the result of a chemical combustion reaction between oxygen and some sort of fuel.
 How long a fire lasts depends on how much fuel and oxygen are available.

Candle Flame
Fire Triangle
For the generation of fire, we need three things to be present simultaneously:-

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 Some sort of fuel or combustible material.
 A heat source to raise the temperature of the fuel to its ignition temperature.
 Enough oxygen to sustain combustion. So, if we remove any one of these resources, the fire can be
controlled.

Flame
 Flame is the visible and gaseous part of the fire.
 What we see as the flame is the light energy released due to the combustion of fuel.

Zones of Candle Flame

Structure of Flame
 The outermost zone is the hottest among all zones and is blue in colour and this is due to complete
combustion. It is the non-luminous part of the flame.
 The middle zone of the candle flame is moderately hot and is yellow in colour, and partial combustion of fuel
takes place. It is the bright part of the flame.
 The innermost zone of the flame is the least hot and is black in colour. This is due to the presence of unburnt
wax vapours.

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Smoke
 Smoke is an example of solid (unburnt particles) dispersed in a gas (air).
 The black colour of smoke is due to the presence of unburnt carbon particles in the smoke.

Matchstick
Types of Combustion
 The type of combustion in which heat and light are released in a very short span of time is called rapid
combustion. For e.g. combustion of L.P.G.
 The type of combustion in which substances catch fire on their own, without the application of heat is
termed as spontaneous combustion. For e.g. forest fires.

Working of a Matchstick
 The main component of the bulb of a matchstick is red phosphorus which turns into white phosphorus on
heating.
 White phosphorus spontaneously ignites, thereby increasing the temperature of the wooden stem to the
ignition point and the matchstick starts burning.

Fire Extinguisher
Fire Control

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Fire can be controlled by removing any or all of the factors of combustion, i.e. fuel, oxygen (air) and ignition
temperature (by lowering the temperature).

Fire Extinguisher
 The fire extinguisher is a device used by the fire brigade to control fire.
 The role of the fire extinguishers is to cut off the supply of oxygen or bring down the temperature of the fuel
or both.

Calorific Value
Ideal Fuel
 The ideal fuel is cheap, easily available and readily combustible.
 It has high calorific value.
 It does not produce harmful gases or residues that pollute the environment.

Calorific Value and Efficiency of a Fuel

 The amount of heat energy produced on complete combustion of 1 kg of a fuel is called its calorific value.
The calorific value of a fuel is expressed in a unit called kilojoule per kg (kJ/kg).
 Efficiency is that proportion of energy released by a fuel combustion process which is converted into useful
work.
 Calorific value is directly proportional to its efficiency. If the value is high, it’s efficiency will also be high. If
the value is low, it’s efficiency would also be low.

Pollution
Harmful Products from Burning of Fuel
 The burning of fuels like wood, coal and petroleum products releases unburnt carbon particles in the air
which causes respiratory problems.
 Incomplete combustion of fuels produces a very poisonous gas called carbon monoxide.
 The burning of fuels releases carbon dioxide in air in the environment which causes global warming.

Unburnt Carbon Particles

 Carbon fuels like wood, coal, candle,  petroleum release unburnt carbon particles.
 These fine particles are dangerous pollutants causing respiratory diseases, such as asthma.

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CO Emission
 Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas, which is produced by incomplete combustion of fuels.
 It is dangerous to burn coal in a closed room as the carbon monoxide produced can kill people sleeping in
that room.

Global Warming
 The rise in the average temperature of the earth’s atmosphere due to the release of carbon dioxide on
combustion of fuels is termed as global warming.
 Melting of polar ice-caps or change in the rainfall pattern are the consequences of global warming.

Acid Rain
 Acid rains are caused by emissions of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, which react with the water
molecules in the atmosphere to produce acid.
 It has a very harmful effect on plants, land and aquatic animals and infrastructure.

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CNG – The Clean Fuel

The use of diesel and petrol as fuels in automobiles is being replaced by CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) because it is
less polluting and a cleaner fuel.

CHOOSE THE CORRECT OPTION.

1. Which of the following fuels is used for running automobiles?

(a) CNG (c) Both (a) and (b)

(b) Petrol (d) Wood
2. Magnesium burns to form

(a) calcium carbonate (c) calcium oxide

(b) magnesium oxide (d) magnesium sulphate
3. Coal burns to produce

(a) calcium bicarbonate (c) carbon dioxide

(b) magnesium (d) oxygen
4. Name the chemical process in which a substance reacts with oxygen to give out heat.

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(a) Reaction (c) Combustion
(b) Junction (d) All of these
5. The substance that undergoes combustion is said to be

(a) burning (c) charcoal

(b) flame (d) combustible
6. Combustible substances are also known as

(a) inflammable (c) illuminous

(b) flaming (d) non-flammable
7. Which of the following is a combustible?

(a) Stone piece (c) Glass

(b) Wood (d) None of these
8. In the sun, light and heat are produced by

(a) chemical reactions (c) burning reactions

(b) nuclear reactions (d) bunsen burner
9. Lowest temperature at which a substance catches fire is known as

(a) lowest temperature (c) ignition temperature

(b) burning temperature (d) flaming temperature
10. Long, long ago, which of the following trees was used to produce matchsticks?

(a) Mango (c) Banyan

(b) Deodar (d) Pine
11. Which chemical is used in the rubbing surface provided for matchsticks?

(a) Sulphur (c) Red phosphorus

(b) Gold (d) White phosphorus
12. Substances which have very low ignition temperature and can catch fire easily are called

(a) flammable substances (c) combustible substances

(b) inflammable substances (d) all of these
13. Which of the following is an example of inflammable substance?

(a) Iron (c) LPG

(b) Glass (d) Stone
14. Which of the following are required essentially for producing fire?

(a) Glass, coal, water (c) Fire, wood, burner

(b) Fuel, coal, straw (d) Fuel, air, heat
15. The most common element used as fire extinguisher is

(a) CO2 (c) phosphorous

(b) oxygen (d) oxygen

16. Baking soda constitutes

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(a) hydrogen chloride (c) sodium bicarbonate
(b) sodium oxide (d) oxygen
17. LPG means

(a) Liquefied Petroleum Gas (c) Liquid Petrol Godown

(b) Liquefied Petrol Gas (d) Liquid Petroleum Gas
18. Phosphorus burns at

(a) room temperature (c) cool temperature

(b) 100°C (d) any temperature
19. ‘Firework’ is an example of

(a) rapid combustion (c) spontaneous combustion

(b) explosion (d) slow combustion
20. The calorific value of‘hydrogen’ is
(a) 50,000 kJ/kg (c) 1,50,000 kJ/kg
(b) 55,000 kJ/kg (d) 6,000 kJ/kg

Answer:
1. (c) 5. (d) 9. (c) 13. (c) 17. (a)
2. (b) 6. (a) 10. (d) 14. (d) 18. (a)
3. (c) 7. (b) 11. (c) 15. (a) 19. (b)
4. (c) 8. (b) 12. (d) 16. (c) 20. (c)

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FILL IN THE BLANKS

1. The substance which vapourises during burning gives _________ .

2. A good fuel should have _________ calorific value.
3. An example of slow combustion is _________.
4. _________ are substances that release energy on combustion.
5. The most common supporter of combustion is _________.
6. Magnesium burns to change into _________.
7. Wood is an example of _________ fuel.
8. _________ is an example of liquid fuel.
9. Carbon dioxide is _________ than oxygen.
10. Oxides of _________ and nitrogen causes acid rain.
11. The increase in amount of _________ gas in atmosphere results in global warming.
12. Inflammable substances have very low _________ temperature.
13. The _________ zone of a flame is the hottest.
14. During combustion, generally, _________ and _________ energies are produced.
15. LPG has a calorific value of _________ kJ/kg.

Answer:
1. flame 6. magnesium oxide 11. carbon dioxide
2. high 7. solid 12. ignition
3. respiration 8. Kerosene 13. non-luminous
4. Fuels 9. heavier 14. heat, light
5. oxygen/air 10. sulphur 15. 55,000

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VERY SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

1. Name the most common fuel used in homes.
Answer:
Liquefied Petroleum Gas. (LPG)

2. Name the most common fire extinguisher.

Answer:
Water

3. What are the states in which a fuel may exist?

Answer:
A fuel may exist in solid, liquid or gaseous state.

4. Name any two combustible substances.

Answer:
Charcoal, wood

5. Does magnesium produce heat and light during its combustion?

Answer:
Yes, it does.

6. What acts as a fuel for our body?

Answer:
Food

7. Give two examples of non-combustible substances. .

Answer:
Water, sand

8. How are heat and light produced in the sun?

Answer:
In the sun, heat and light are produced by nuclear reactions.

9. Where were matchsticks first used?

Answer:
Egypt

10. What are the three essential requirements for combustion?

Answer:
Fuel, air (to supply oxygen) and heat (to raise the temperature of the fuel beyond the ignition temperature).

11. What is the ignition temperature of phosphorus?

Answer:
25°C

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12. What is the colour of an LPG flame?
Answer:
Blue

13. What type of process is combustion?

Answer:
A chemical process

14. Name an ideal fuel.

Answer:
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)

15. What is the composition of the head of a matchstick?

Answer:
Antimony trisulphide and potassium chlorate.

16. Which part of a flame does a goldsmith blow for melting gold and silver?
Answer:
The goldsmith blows the outermost zone of a flame for melting gold and silver.

17. What is the unit for expressing the calorific value of a fuel?
Answer:
Kilojoules per kilogram (kJ/kg)

18. Comparing the calorific values of coal and petrol, state which fuel is better.
Answer:
The calorific value of coal is about 25,000 – 33,000 kJ/kg, whereas that of petrol is 45,000 kJ/kg. Hence, petrol is
a better fuel.

19. What is deforestation?

Answer:
The cutting down of trees on a large scale is termed as deforestation.

20. Give any two examples of carbon fuels.

Answer:
Coal, petroleum

21. What does magnesium burn to form?

Answer:
Magnesium burns to form magnesium oxide and produces heat and light.

22. What does coal produce during its combustion?

Answer:
Coal produces carbon dioxide, heat and light during its combustion.

23. What is global warming?

Answer:

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An increase in the average temperature of the earth’s atmosphere, especially a sustained increase that causes
climatic changes, is termed as ‘global warming’.

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

1. What is combustion?
Answer:
Combustion is a chemical process in which a substance reacts with oxygen to give off heat.

2. Define ignition temperature of a fuel.

Answer:
The lowest temperature at which a fuel catches fire is called its ignition temperature.

3. How does a matchstick catch fire?

Answer:
By rubbing a matchstick against a rough surface (friction), it attains its ignition temperature and thus catches fire.

4. Why is sodium kept immersed in kerosene?

Answer:
Sodium has very low ignition temperature, i.e., it catches fire on coming in contact with air, so it is kept in
kerosene.

5. What are combustible and non-combustible substances?

Answer:
Substances which undergo combustion are said to be combustible, whereas non-combustible substances are
those which don’t burn.

6. What are inflammable substances? Give examples.

Answer:
The substances which have very low ignition temperature and can easily catch fire with a flame are called
inflammable substances; e.g., LPG, petrol, alcohol, etc.

7. What is rapid combustion?

Answer:
When a substance burns instantly and produces a huge amount of heat and light, the combustion is called rapid
combustion; e.g., the instant burning of LPG in a gas stove.

8. Define spontaneous combustion.

Answer:
A type of combustion in which the substance suddenly catches fire without the supply of heat or friction
externally is called spontaneous combustion; e.g., forest fires.

9. Define explosion.
Answer:
A type of combustion during which a huge amount of heat and light is evolved with a boom, along with the
production of gas, is known as explosion; e.g., the exploding of fireworks, i.e., crackers, etc.

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10. What is flame?
Answer:
Flame is a region where the burning or combustion of gaseous substances take place.

11. Define fuel.

Answer:
Those substances which provide energy on burning are called ‘fuels’; e.g., coal, petroleum, LPG, etc.

12. Give two examples each of solid fuels, liquid fuels and gaseous fuels.
Answer:
Solid fuels – Wood, cow dung, etc.
Liquid fuels – Kerosene, petrol, etc.
Gaseous fuels – Hydrogen, methane, etc.

13. Give two examples of fuels that are used to generate electricity.
Answer:
Two examples of fuels that are used to generate electricity are petrochemicals and coal.

14. Define calorific value.

Answer:
The amount of heat produced on burning one kilogram of fuel completely is called its calorific value.

15. 60 kg of fuel was completely burnt for an experiment. The amount of heat energy was found to be 1,80,000 kJ.
Calculate the calorific value of the fuel.
Answer:
Amount of fuel burnt = 60 kg
Amount of heat produced = 1,80,000 kJ
Calorific value of the fuel =  Heat produced  Amount of fuel 
= 1,80,000/60 = 3,000 kJ/kg
∴ Calorific value of the fuel is 3,000 kJ/kg.

16. Define dark zone of a flame.

Answer:
The innermost zone of a flame around the wick is called its dark zone. It is the least hottest zone com¬paratively
to other.

17. Name the colours of the flames of following substances:

Barium,                       arsenic,                         sodium,                         
magnesium.
Answer:
Name of the substance Colour of its flame
Barium Pale/Apple green
Arsenic Blue
Sodium Yellow
Magnesium White

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18. Mention any three characteristics of a good fuel.
Answer:
Any three characteristics of a good fuel are following:
 It has high calorific value.
 It is very easy to transport.
 It is cheap, affordable and economic.

LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS

1. Why isn’t hydrogen gas used as a domestic or industrial fuel, although it has a very high calorific value? State
three reasons for the answer.
Answer:
Although hydrogen gas has a very high calorific value, it is not used as a domestic or industrial fuel due to the
following reasons:
 It is expensive.
 It burns with an explosion.
 It is extremely inflammable, so it is risky to store and transport hydrogen.

2. Explain how water gets boiled in paper cup without burning it.
Answer:
When we heat the paper cup containing water, the heat given to it is rapidly transferred to water from the paper
cup. The temperature of water goes on increasing until it attains its boiling point, and starts boiling. As, during
this process, the heat is continuously being transferred to water; the paper cup does not attain its ignition
temperature. Hence, it does not burn.

3. Why does a piece of paper burn with yellow flame? Give a reason.
Answer:
The inadequate supply of oxygen during the combustion of the piece of paper produces solid carbon particles
that rise up in the flame. They become hot and glow to give off yellowish light. This makes the piece of paper
burn with a yellowish flame.

4. It is observed at petrol pumps and airports, that hydrocarbon fire extinguishers are used, instead of soda-acid
fire extinguisher. Give reasons why.
Answer:
At petrol pumps and airports, there is more probability of fire break out due to oil. In such situations, soda-acid
fire extinguisher does not work as it contains water or uses water to take off fire by cooling down the place.
Water being heavier than oil sinks to bottom and hence, fire does not get controlled. In such a case, hydrocarbon
fire extinguisher is very useful, as it contains turkey red oil, which causes the foaming of carbon dioxide gas
under pressure. The foam covers the surface of the burning substances and dispels the supply of air to control
fire.

5. Explain complete combustion.

Answer:
This type of combustion involves complete burning of the combustible substance. No residue is left behind. Ash
or smoke is not given off during or after this type of combustion. Mostly gases, such as hy¬drocarbons go
through this form of combustion. On combustion, hydrocarbon produces carbon dioxide, water and heat.

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