COMPLETE COMBUSTION
- Products: CO₂ + H₂O only
- Oxygen: Plentiful supply
- Flame: Blue and clean
- Energy: Maximum release
- Safety: Safe products
- Example: CH₄ + 2O₂ → CO₂ + 2H₂O
INCOMPLETE COMBUSTION
- Products: CO and/or C (soot)
- Oxygen: Limited supply
- Flame: Yellow/orange, smoky
- Energy: Less energy released
- Safety: Dangerous CO gas
- Example: 2CH₄ + 3O₂ → 2CO + 4H₂O
This key facts covers Combustion Products Summary within Combustion for GCSE Chemistry. Revise Combustion in Organic Chemistry for GCSE Chemistry with 25 exam-style questions and 15 flashcards. Use this page as part of a wider topic revision path rather than treating it as an isolated fact. It is section 6 of 13 in this topic. Use this key facts to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Practice questions for Combustion
What are the only products formed during the complete combustion of a hydrocarbon?
Explain why carbon monoxide (CO) is toxic to humans. [3 marks]
Quick recall flashcards
What is complete combustion?
Complete combustion occurs when there is plenty of oxygen, producing only carbon dioxide (CO₂) and water (H₂O)
What is combustion?
Combustion is the reaction of a substance with oxygen, releasing energy as heat and light (burning)