In simple words, combustion is the process of burning a fuel in the presence of oxygen to release heat energy . This process is commonly used in cars, airplanes, power plants, industrial furnaces, and household cooking or heating devices. When Coal (containing Carbon) is burnt in air, it reacts with oxygen present in air to produce Carbon Dioxide, heat and light. Example 2. When Magnesium ribbon is burnt in air, it reacts with oxygen in air to produce Magnesium Oxide + Heat + Light. What is a Combustion Reaction? A combustion reaction is a reaction of a substance with oxygen gas to release relatively large amounts of energy . Because combustion reactions are often characterized by the presence of flames, a substance undergoing combustion is often said to be burning. Combustion, or burning, [1] is a high-temperature exothermic redox chemical reaction between a fuel (the reductant) and an oxidant , usually atmospheric oxygen, that produces oxidized, often gaseous products, in a mixture termed as smoke.
