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Soot

Key Stage 3

Meaning

Soot is a very small lump of Carbon atoms made during combustion.

About Soot

Many particles of soot build up to form a layer of black powder. This can be seen in chimneys.

Key Stage 4

Meaning

Soot is a very small lump of Carbon atoms made during incomplete combustion.

About Soot

Many particles of soot build up to form a layer of black powder.
During the industrial revolution soot built up on trees which caused the white moths to be visible to predators. After a few years natural selection had killed off all the white moths while a mutation caused some moths to be black, allowing them to survive.
Soot is produced in the following incomplete combustion reactions:
Methane + OxygenSoot + Water

\(CH4 + O2 → C + 2H2O\)

Ethane + OxygenSoot + Water

\(2C_2H_6 + 3O_2 → 4C + 6H_2O\)

Ethane + OxygenSoot + Carbon Monoxide + Water

\(2C_2H_6 + 4O_2 → 2C + 2CO + 6H_2O\)

Ethene + OxygenSoot + Water

\(C_2H_4 + O_2 → 2C + 2H_2O\)

Ethene + OxygenSoot + Carbon Monoxide + Water

\(2C_2H_4 + 3O_2 → 2C + 2CO + 4H_2O\)

Methanol + OxygenSoot + Water

\(2CH_3OH + O2 → 2C + 4H_2O\)

Ethanol + OxygenSoot + Water

\(C_2H_5OH + O_2 → 2C + 3H_2O\)

Ethanol + OxygenSoot + Carbon Monoxide + Water

\(2C_2H_5OH + 3O_2 → 2C + 2CO + 6H_2O\)

References

AQA

Soot, page 238, GCSE Chemistry, Hodder, AQA
Soot, pages 181, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy 2, Hodder, AQA
Soot, pages 202-203, GCSE Chemistry; Third Edition, Oxford University Press, AQA

Edexcel

Soot, page 139, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
Soot, page 89, GCSE Chemistry; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel