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Fuels and Earth Science

Complete and incomplete combustion

  • 3 things to know
  • Paper 2

Overview

The products of complete combustion and why it needs plenty of oxygen, the oxidation of carbon and hydrogen, equations for burning methane and propane, and how limited oxygen gives carbon monoxide, soot and water in incomplete combustion.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

Name the two products formed when a hydrocarbon burns completely.

Key term

State whether complete combustion gives out or takes in energy.

Key term

Which element in a hydrocarbon is oxidised to carbon dioxide during complete combustion?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    Name the two products formed when a hydrocarbon burns completely.

    Model answer

    Complete combustion produces carbon dioxide and water.

  2. 2

    State whether complete combustion gives out or takes in energy.

    Model answer

    Complete combustion gives out energy, so it is an exothermic reaction.

  3. 3

    Which element in a hydrocarbon is oxidised to carbon dioxide during complete combustion?

    Model answer

    The carbon is oxidised to carbon dioxide.

  4. 4

    Which element in a hydrocarbon is oxidised to water during complete combustion?

    Model answer

    The hydrogen is oxidised to water.

  5. 5

    Write the word equation for the complete combustion of methane.

    Model answer

    Methane + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water.

  6. 6

    Write the balanced equation for the complete combustion of methane.

    Model answer

    CH₄ + 2O₂ → CO₂ + 2H₂O.

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