Incomplete Combustion

Key Stage 4

Meaning

Incomplete Combustion is when a fuel burns without sufficient Oxygen to fully oxidise all the atoms within the compound.

About Incomplete Combustion

Incomplete combustion happens when there is not enough Oxygen.

Complete Combustion should produce only Water and Carbon Dioxide.

Incomplete combustion leads to the production of Soot and Carbon Monoxide.

The following are examples of incomplete combustion reactions:

Methane + Oxygen → Soot + Water

<chem>CH4 + O2 -> C + 2H2O</chem>

Methane + Oxygen → Carbon Monoxide + Water

<chem>2CH4 + 3O2 -> 2CO + 4H2O</chem>

Ethane + Oxygen → Soot + Water

<chem>2C2H6 + 3O2 -> 4C + 6H2O</chem>

Ethane + Oxygen → Carbon Monoxide + Water

<chem>2C2H6 + 5O2 -> 4CO + 6H2O</chem>

Ethane + Oxygen → Soot + Carbon Monoxide + Water

<chem>2C2H6 + 4O2 -> 2C + 2CO + 6H2O</chem>

Ethene + Oxygen → Soot + Water

<chem>C2H4 + O2 -> 2C + 2H2O</chem>

Ethene + Oxygen → Carbon Monoxide + Water

<chem>C2H4 + 2O2 -> 2CO + 2H2O</chem>

Ethene + Oxygen → Soot + Carbon Monoxide + Water

<chem>2C2H4 + 3O2 -> 2C + 2CO + 4H2O</chem>

Methanol + Oxygen → Soot + Water

<chem>2CH3OH + O2 -> 2C + 4H2O</chem>

Methanol + Oxygen → Carbon Monoxide + Water

<chem>CH3OH + O2 -> CO + 2H2O</chem>

Ethanol + Oxygen → Soot + Water

<chem>C2H5OH + O2 -> 2C + 3H2O</chem>

Ethanol + Oxygen → Carbon Monoxide + Water

<chem>C2H5OH + 2O2 -> 2CO + 3H2O</chem>

Ethanol + Oxygen → Soot + Carbon Monoxide + Water

<chem>2C2H5OH + 3O2 -> 2C + 2CO + 6H2O</chem>