Final answer:
Combustion is a rapid chemical reaction where a fuel combines with oxygen, releasing heat and light. Common examples include the burning of methane on a kitchen stove or hydrogen gas producing water vapor. Oxygen is essential for combustion and can be tested with a glowing splint.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term you're referring to is 'combustion,' which is a rapid chemical reaction that combines molecules of oxygen with molecules of fuel resulting in the release of energy in the form of light and heat. Combustion reactions are essential in everyday processes such as the burning of fuels, and they must involve oxygen (O₂) as one reactant. The combustion of substances, typically those containing carbon and hydrogen, leads to the production of carbon dioxide (CO₂), water (H₂O), and energy.
For example, the burning of methane gas (CH₄), commonly used in kitchen stoves, is a combustion reaction represented by the equation: CH₄ + 2O₂ → CO₂ + 2 H₂O + Heat. Another example involves the combustion of hydrogen gas, which produces water vapor: 2H₂(g) + O₂(g) → 2H₂O(g).
Oxygen and Combustion
Oxygen is crucial for combustion processes. A classic test to identify the presence of oxygen involves using a glowing splint; if it bursts back into flames when placed in a gas sample, oxygen is present. This is because oxygen is the only gas that supports combustion.