Combustion is a chemical process that occurs between a fuel and an oxidant, usually atmospheric oxygen, that produces oxidized, often gaseous products, in a mixture termed as smoke. It is a high-temperature exothermic redox chemical reaction that produces energy, usually in the form of heat and light. The original substance is called the fuel, and the source of oxygen is called the oxidizer. During combustion, new chemical substances are created from the fuel and oxidizer, and the heat of combustion is released.
Some key points about combustion include:
- Combustion is a chemical reaction that occurs between a fuel and an oxidizing agent that produces energy, usually in the form of heat and light.
- The fuel can be a solid, liquid, or gas, although for airplane propulsion the fuel is usually a liquid.
- The oxidizer, likewise, could be a solid, liquid, or gas, but is usually a gas (air) for airplanes.
- Combustion is a complicated sequence of elementary radical reactions.
- Fires occur naturally, ignited by lightning strikes or by volcanic products.
- Combustion was the first controlled chemical reaction discovered by humans, in the form of campfires and bonfires, and continues to be the main method to produce energy for humanity.
In summary, combustion is a chemical process that occurs between a fuel and an oxidant, producing energy in the form of heat and light. It is a complicated sequence of elementary radical reactions and is used in a variety of applications, including aircraft and rocket propulsion, as well as energy production for humanity.
