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 → Carbon Monoxide + Water
- <chem>2C2H6 + 5O2 -> 4CO + 6H2O</chem>
- Ethane + Oxygen → Soot + Carbon Monoxide + Water
- <chem>2C2H6 + 4O2 -> 2C + 2CO + 6H2O</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 → Carbon Monoxide + Water
- <chem>CH3OH + O2 -> CO + 2H2O</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>