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As you learned in an earlier lesson, combustion reactions always involve oxygen. Anytime anything burns, it is a combustion reaction. In this lesson, you will learn more about combustion reactions.

Another type of reaction is called a combustion reaction. Combustion, or burning, is a chemical reaction in which a fuel combines with oxygen, releasing heat. The most common types of fuel are organic materials containing carbon and hydrogen from which the waste products are typically carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide, water, and sometimes smoke.

Combustion is a chemical reaction that produces heat and light. The most common form of combustion is fire. Most forms of combustion happen when oxygen joins with another substance. For example, when carbon and hydrogen in fuel combine with oxygen in the air, a chemical reaction takes place and creates fire — this is combustion!

Many common substances can undergo combustion — for example, paper, cloth, and natural gas. Combustion begins when the substance reaches a temperature called its ignition point. At this temperature, oxygen combines with the substance fast enough to produce a flame. Different substances have different ignition points. For example, the ignition point of paper is about 233° C.

Very fast combustion can cause an explosion. This type of combustion happens in a bomb, a firecracker, or fireworks. During an explosion, air heats up so fast that it expands and moves outward with great force.

Let's take a look at a couple of examples of common combustion reactions.

Click on the Play button below to watch a video that explains combustion reactions.

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