Combustion facts for kids

Combustion is a special chemical reaction where a fuel quickly combines with an oxidizer (like oxygen) and gives off heat. This heat often creates light that we see as a flame. Think of it as burning!

Combustion is super important for many things we use every day. For example, both car engines and rocket engines work because of combustion. In a car, tiny explosions of gas inside cylinders push parts up and down, making the car move. For rockets, powerful explosions of fuel shoot out the back, pushing the rocket into space.

During combustion, the fuel reacts with oxygen and heat. This reaction releases a lot of energy. When there's plenty of oxygen, it's called complete combustion. This type of burning releases the most energy and is more efficient. If there isn't enough air or oxygen, it's called incomplete combustion. This kind of burning creates less energy and can also produce harmful gases like carbon monoxide and more soot.

Choosing the right fuel for a job is important. Fuels are substances that react with oxygen to release useful energy, mostly as heat and some light. About 21% of the air around us is oxygen. When a fuel burns with lots of air, it gets enough oxygen for complete combustion. Many common fuels, like natural gas and petrol, contain hydrocarbons. These are compounds made only of hydrogen and carbon.

Sadly, burning most substances can be bad for our environment. It often releases greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, which can harm the ozone layer and contribute to climate change. However, some fuels, like hydrogen, burn very cleanly and produce a lot of heat without much pollution. The challenge with hydrogen is that it doesn't produce as much power as other fuels and is highly explosive.

Related pages

• Exothermic
• Phlogiston theory

Images for kids

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  The flames caused as a result of a fuel undergoing combustion (burning)

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  Air pollution abatement equipment provides combustion control for industrial processes.

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  The combustion of methane, a hydrocarbon.

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  Colourized gray-scale composite image of the individual frames from a video of a backlit fuel droplet burning in microgravity.

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  Antoine Lavoisier conducting an experiment related to combustion generated by amplified sun light.

See also

In Spanish: Combustión para niños