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Combustion

Combustion is a fancy name for burning. When you burn a hydrocarbon, you can have complete combustion or incomplete combustion.

Complete combustion

Complete combustion

  • Complete combustion gives a blue flame.
  • Complete combustion produces only carbon dioxide and water.
Incomplete combustion

Incomplete combustion

  • Incomplete combustion gives an orange smoky flame.
    • The orange colour is due to small particles of pure carbon glowing red hot.
  • Incomplete combustion gives some carbon dioxide, some water, but also pure carbon, hydrocarbons, and carbon monoxide.
  • Incomplete combustion is more likely with longer chain alkanes, as they need more oxygen to combust completely.
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1

Physical Chemistry

1.1

Atoms, Molecules & Stoichiometry

1.2

Atomic Structure

1.3

Chemical Bonding

1.4

States of Matter

1.5

Chemical Energetics

1.6

Electrochemistry

1.7

Equilibria

1.8

Partition Coefficient

1.9

Reaction Kinetics

2

Inorganic Chemistry

3

Organic Chemistry & Analysis

3.1

Introduction to Organic Chemistry

3.2

Hydrocarbons

3.3

Halogen Derivatives

3.4

Hydroxy Compounds

3.5

Carbonyl Compounds

3.6

Carboxylic Acids & Derivatives

3.7

Nitrogen Compounds

3.8

Polymerisation

3.9

Analytical Techniques

3.10

Organic Synthesis

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