Soot

Contents

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 often made in the following incomplete combustion reactions:

Methane + Oxygen → Soot + Water

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

Ethane + Oxygen → Soot + Water

<chem>2C2H6 + 3O2 -> 4C + 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 → Soot + Carbon Monoxide + Water

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

Methanol + Oxygen → Soot + Water

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

Ethanol + Oxygen → Soot + Water

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

Ethanol + Oxygen → Soot + Carbon Monoxide + Water

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