Combustion Flashcards
what’s needed for a candle to burn?
oxygen, thermal energy, and hydrocarbons for fuel
what’s a hydrocarbon?
a compound of hydrogen and carbon like methane (CH4) or propane(C3H8)
true or false: carbon monoxide is a by product of a complete combustion reaction
false
what are byproducts of complete combustion?
carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O)
what is chemiluminescence?
this is when electrons are pushed to outer energy level and relsease energy when they’re pushed back down. this emits blue radiant energy/light
what are the results of an incomplete combustion
a lack of oxygen results in a by-product of carbon monoxide and soot
what causes flames to be yellow
since there’s carbon debris or soot left over, it glows yellow as it’s heated up and makes the flame yellow
what’s pyrolysis
this is when fuel turns from a solid, into a liquid, and then into a vapor
oxidation is…
when something reacts to oxygen (respiration, rusting, and food browning)
what’s incandescense
this is what causes flames to be yellow. it’s when soot gets so hot that it glows bright releasing visible light
flames are blue when…
there’s complete combustion
flames are yellow when…
there’s incomplete combustion
what’s incomplete combustion?
incomplete combustion is when there’s not enough oxygen in system of the flame
pyrolysis occurs in
the near absence of oxygen
the rate of change equation is
y2-y1/x2-x1
percent difference formula
(|a-b| / a+b / 2) x 100
the absolute difference over the average
percent change formula
f-o/o x 100
why are flames hot
during chemical reaction, the oxygen atoms go crazy and move quickly. if you touch it, the atoms in your hands will move really fast and generate heat which will burn you
in a candle theres…
oxygen in the air, and hyrdogen and carbon locked in the wax/wick
what is pyrolysis in a candle
when heat is added, oxygen atoms move so fast that they break the carbon and hydrogen off of the candle and they’re released into the air as hydrocarbon gas
