Practice Combustion in Chemistry

Use these practice problems to test your method after reviewing the concept explanation and worked examples.

Quick Recap

A rapid exothermic reaction between a fuel and oxygen, producing carbon dioxide and water (for hydrocarbon fuels).

Burning. When something burns, it's reacting with oxygen and releasing energy as heat and light.

Example 1

easy
Write the balanced equation for the complete combustion of ethanol (\text{C}_2\text{H}_5\text{OH}).

Example 2

medium
What is the difference between complete and incomplete combustion of methane (\text{CH}_4)? Write equations for both.

Example 3

easy
Balance the combustion of butane: \text{C}_4\text{H}_{10} + \text{O}_2 \rightarrow \text{CO}_2 + \text{H}_2\text{O}.

Example 4

hard
Ethanol (\text{C}_2\text{H}_5\text{OH}) is used as a fuel additive. Write the balanced equation for its complete combustion. If only limited oxygen is available, what products form instead (incomplete combustion)?
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