C OMBUSTION AND F LAME

W e use different kinds of fuel for

various purposes at home, in
industry and for running
automobiles. Can you name a few fuels used
in our homes? Name a few fuels used in trade
and industry. What fuels are used for running
automobiles? Your list will contain fuels like
cowdung, wood, coal, charcoal, petrol, diesel,
compressed natural gas (CNG), etc.
You are familiar with the burning of a
candle. What is the difference between the
burning of a candle and the burning of a fuel
like coal? May be you were able to guess
right: candle burns with a flame whereas coal
does not. Similarly, you will find many other
materials burning without a flame. Let us
study the chemical process of burning and the
Fig. 6.1 : Burning of magnesium
types of flame produced during this process.
A chemical process in which a substance
6.1 What is Combustion? reacts with oxygen to give off heat is called
Recall the activity of burning of magnesium combustion. The substance that undergoes
ribbon performed in Class VII. We learnt that combustion is said to be combustible. It is also
magnesium burns to form magnesium oxide called a fuel. The fuel may be solid, liquid or
and produces heat and light (Fig. 6.1). gas. Sometimes, light is also given off during
We can perform a similar activity with a combustion, either as a flame or as a glow.
piece of charcoal. Hold the piece with a pair In the reactions mentioned above
of tongs and bring it near the flame of a candle magnesium and charcoal are combustible
or a Bunsen burner. What do you observe? substances.
We find that charcoal burns in air. We
know that coal, too, burns in air producing
carbon dioxide, heat and light. We were told that
food is a fuel for
our body.
Rightly so. In our body food is broken down by
reaction with oxygen and heat is produced. We
learnt that in Class VII.

Activity 6.1
Activity 6.2
Caution : Be careful while handling burning
candle.
Fix a lighted candle on a table. Put a
glass chimney over the candle and rest it
on a few wooden blocks in such a way
that air can enter the
Collect some materials like straw,
matchsticks, kerosene oil, paper, iron
nails, stone pieces, glass, etc. Under the
supervision of your teacher try to burn
each of these materials one by one. If
combustion takes place mark the material
combustible, otherwise mark it as non-
combustible (Table 6.1).
Table 6.1 Combustible and noncombustible
Substances
(a) (b) (c)
Fig. 6.2: Experiment to show that air is essential for
burning
Let us investigate conditions under which
combustion takes place. chimney [Fig. 6.2(a)].
Observe what happens to the flame. Now
remove the blocks and let the chimney rest on
the table [Fig. 6.2(b)]. Again observe the flame.
Finally, put a glass plate over the chimney [Fig.
6.2(c)]. Watch the flame again. What happens
in the three cases? Does the flame flicker off?
Does it flicker and give smoke? Does it burn
unaffected? Can you infer anything at all about
the role played by air in the process of burning?

Materi Noncomb We find that for combustion, air is

al Combustible ustible necessary. The candle burns freely in case (a)
when air can enter the chimney from below. In
Wood case (b), when air does not enter the chimney
Paper from below, the flame flickers
and produces smoke. In case
Iron (c), the flame finally goes off
nails because the air is not available.
Kerosen We have read that the sun
e oil produces its own heat and
Stone light. Is it also some kind of combustion?
piece
Straw In the sun, heat and light are produced by
Charc nuclear reactions. You will learn about this
oal process in higher classes.
Matchst
icks Activity 6.3
Glass
Place a piece of burning wood or
Can you name some more substances which charcoal on an iron plate or Tawa. Cover
are combustible? You can add those to Table it with a glass jar or a tumbler, or a
6.1. transparent plastic jar.

66 S CIENCE
 Observe what happens. Does charcoal
stop burning after sometime? Can you
think of the reason why it stops burning?
You might have heard that when the
clothes of a person catch fire, the person is
You must have had an experience of
burning a piece of paper. Does it burn when a
burning matchstick is brought near it?
Can you burn a piece of wood by bringing a
lighted matchstick near it?
Why do you have to use paper or kerosene

During extreme heat

of summer, at some
places dry grasses
catch fire. From
grasses, it spreads to
trees, and very soon
the whole forest is on
fire (Fig. 6.4). It is
very difficult to
control such fires.

Fig. 6.4 : Forest fire

oil to start fire in wood or coal?
covered with a blanket to extinguish Have you heard of forest fires?

fire (Fig. 6.3). Can you guess why?

Fig. 6.3 : Blanket wrapped around a person whose
clothes caught fire

Now recall some of your experiences.

Does a matchstick burn by itself? How does
it burn?
C OMBUSTION AND F LAME 65
 Do these experiences tell you that different
substances catch fire at different temperatures?
The lowest temperature at which a
substance catches fire is called its ignition
temperature.
Can you tell now why a matchstick does
not catch fire on its own at room temperature?
Why does the matchstick start burning on
rubbing it on the side of the matchbox?
The history of the matchstick is very old.
More than five thousand years ago small
pieces of pinewood dipped in sulphur were
used as matches in ancient Egypt. The
modern safety match was developed only
about two hundred years ago.
A mixture of antimony trisulphide,
potassium chlorate and white phosphorus with
some glue and starch was applied on the head
of a match made of suitable wood. When
struck against a rough surface, white
phosphorus got ignited due to the heat of
friction. This started the combustion of the
match. However, white phosphorus proved to
be dangerous both for the workers involved in
the manufacturing of matches and for the
users.
These days the head of the safety match
contains only antimony trisulphide and
potassium chlorate. The rubbing surface has
powdered glass and a little red phosphorus
(which is much less dangerous). When the
match is struck against the rubbing surface,
some red phosphorus gets converted into
white phosphorus. This immediately reacts
with potassium chlorate in the matchstick
head to produce enough heat to ignite
antimony trisulphide and start the combustion.
We find that a combustible substance
cannot catch fire or burn as long as its
temperature is lower than its ignition
temperature. Have you ever seen cooking oil
catching fire when a frying pan is kept for long
on a burning stove? Kerosene oil and wood do
not catch fire on their own at room
temperature. But, if kerosene oil is heated a
little, it will catches fire. But if wood is heated
a little, it would still not catch fire. Does it
66
mean that ignition temperature of kerosene oil
is lower than that of wood? Does it mean that
we need to take special care in storing kerosene
oil? The following activity shows that it is
essential for a substance to reach ignition
temperature to burn.
Activity 6.4
Caution : Be careful while handling
burning candle.
Make two paper cups by folding a
sheet of paper. Pour about 50 mL of
water in one of the cups. Heat both
the cups separately with a candle
(Fig. 6.5). What do you observe?
water
paper
cups
Fig. 6.5 : Heating water in a paper cup
What happens to the empty paper cup?
What happens to the paper cup with water?
Does water in this cup become hot?
If we continue heating the cup, we can even
boil water in the paper cup.
Can you think of an explanation for this
phenomenon?
The heat supplied to the paper cup is
transferred to water by conduction. So, in the
presence of water, the ignition temperature of
paper is not reached. Hence, it does not burn.
The substances which have very low
ignition temperature and can easily catch fire
with a
S CIENCE
 Does your that the fuel in most
city/town have a fire cases cannot be
brigade station?
When a fire
brigade arrives, what
does it do? It pours
water on the fire (Fig.
6.6). Water cools the
combustible material
so that its
temperature is
brought below its
ignition temperature.
This prevents the fire
from spreading.
Water vapours also
surround the
Fig. 6.6: Firemen extinguish the fire by throwing water combustible material,
under pressure helping in cutting off
flame are Also, share the the supply of air. So,
called experience with the fire is
inflammable your classmates. extinguished.
substances. You have learnt
Examples of Find out the that there are three
telephone essential
inflammable
number of the
substances are requirements for
fire service in
petrol, alcohol, your area. If a producing fire. Can
Liquified Petroleum fire breaks out you list these
Gas (LPG), etc. Can in your house or requirements?
you list some more in your These are: fuel,
inflammable neighbourhood, air (to supply
substances? the first thing to oxygen) and heat (to
do is to call the raise the temperature
fire service. of the fuel beyond
6.2 How do We
Control Fire? the ignition
It is temperature). Fire
You must have seen can be controlled by
or heard of fire removing one or
breaking out in more of these
homes, shops and requirements. The
factories. If you important that all of
us know the job of a fire
have seen such an extinguisher is to cut
telephone numbers
accident, write a of the fire service. off the supply of air,
short description in or to bring down the
your note book. temperature of the
C OMBUSTION AND F LAME 67
fuel, or both. Notice
 The most common fire
extinguisher is water. But water
works only when things like wood
and paper are on fire. If electrical
equipment is on fire, water may
conduct electricity and harm those
trying to douse the fire. Water is
also not suitable for fires involving
oil and petrol. Do you recall that
water is heavier than oil? So, it
sinks below the oil, and oil Fig. 6.7 :
Fire extinguisher keeps burning on
top.
For fires involving electrical equipment and inflammable materials like petrol, carbon dioxide
(CO2) is the best extinguisher. CO 2, being heavier than oxygen, covers the fire like a blanket. Since
the contact between the fuel and oxygen is cut off, the fire is controlled. The added advantage of CO 2
is that in most cases it does not harm the electrical equipment.
How do we get the supply of carbon dioxide? It can be stored at high pressure as a liquid in
cylinders. In what form is the LPG stored in cylinders? When released from the cylinder, CO 2
expands enormously in volume and cools down. So, it not only forms a blanket around the fire, it also
brings down the temperature of the fuel. That is why it is an excellent fire extinguisher. Another way
to get CO2 is to release a lot of dry powder of chemicals like sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) or
potassium bicarbonate. Near the fire, these chemicals give off CO 2.

eliminated. If, for CAUTION : Do The type of

instance, a building not handle the combustion in
catches fire, the gas stove which a material
whole building is the yourself. Ask suddenly bursts into
fuel. your parents to flames, without the
help. application of any
6.3 Types of apparent cause is
Combustion called spontaneous
We find that the combustion.
Bring a burning
gas burns rapidly and
matchstick or a gas
produces heat and Spontaneous
lighter near a gas
light. Such combustion of coal
stove in the kitchen.
combustion is known dust has resulted in
Turn on the knob of
as rapid combustion. many disastrous
the gas stove. What
There are fires
do you observe?
substances like in coal mines.
phosphorus which Spontaneous forest
burn in air at room fires are sometimes
temperature. due to the heat of the
66 S CIENCE
sun or due to
 lightning strike. experience of careful). Hold a one end in the
However, most burning the glass tube with dark zone of a
forest fires are due remaining items in a pair of tongs non-flickering
to the carelessness Table 6.2 you can and introduce its
of human beings. It do that now. Table 6.2 Materials
is important to Record your forming Flame on
remember that the observations and Burning
campfires must be S.No. Material
mention whether on Forms flame
completely
burning the material
extinguished before
forms a flame or 1. Candle
leaving a forest after
not.
a picnic, or a visit.
2. Magnesium

We generally 3. Camphor
have fireworks on
4. Kerosene Stove
festival days. When
5. Charcoal
a cracker is ignited,
a sudden reaction
takes place with the
evolution of heat, Fig. 6.8: Colours of a
candle flame and the
light and sound. A
flame of a kitchen stove
large amount of gas
formed in the
reaction is liberated.
Such a reaction is
called explosion.
Explosion can also
take place if
pressure is applied
on the cracker.

6.4 Flame
Observe
candle flamean [Fig.
LPG6.10 (a)]. Bring a
flame.
lightedCan you tellnear the other
matchstick
the colour of the
end of the glass tube. Do you see a
flame?What
flame. is theis it thatFig.
If so, what 6.9 : Flames of
produces
a flame? kerosene lamp, candle
colour of Notice that the wax near
a candle and Bunsen Burner
the heated wick melts quickly.
flame?
Recall your 6.5 Structure of a
experience of Flame
burning a
magnesium ribbon Activity 6.6 Fig. 6.10 (b)
in Class VII. If you Light a candle A circular blackish ring is formed on
do not have (Caution : Bethe glass plate/slide. It indicates the
C OMBUSTION AND F LAME deposition of unburnt carbon particles 67
present in the luminous zone of the
flame.
Hold a thin long copper wire just
inside the flame for about 30 seconds
[Fig. 6.10 (c)].
 Fig. 6.10 (a)

Charcoal, on the other hand, does not

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66 S CIENCE
u n
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C OMBUSTION AND F LAME 67
d
s wood, charcoal, may take the help of
. petrol, kerosene, your parents. Do
vapourise and so etc. These these three fuels
does not produce a substances
outer zone of are produce the same
hottest complete
flame. In Activity part called fuels. A good amount of heat? The
combustion (blue)
6.6, could the fuel is one which is amount of heat
vapours of wax moderately readily available. It energy produced on
coming out of the hot ismiddle
cheap.zone It
of burns complete combustion
partial combustion
glass tube be the least
easily in air at a of 1 kg of a fuel is
(yellow)
cause of the flame moderate rate. It called its calorific
produced? produceszonea of large
innermost value. The calorific
When the candle wax candle amount of heat. It
unburnt wax value of a fuel is
flame is steady, does not leave
vapours (black) expressed in a unit
introduce a clean hot behind any called kilojoule per
glass plate/slide into Fig. 6.10 (d): undersirable kg (kJ/kg). Calorific
the luminous zone of Different Zones of substances. values of some fuels
the flame [Fig. 6.10 Candle flame melting There is probably are given in Table
(b)]. Hold it there gold and silver (Fig. no fuel that could be 6.4.
with a pair of tongs 6.11). Why do they considered as an Table 6.4 :
for about 10 seconds. use the outermost ideal fuel. We should Calorifi
Then remove it. zone of the flame? look for a fuel which c
What do you fulfils most of the Values
observe? requirements for a of
Fig. 6.10 (c) particular use. Differe
nt
Fuels differ in
Notice that the Fuels
their cost. Some fuels
portion of the Fuel
are cheaper than Calorific Value
copper wire just
others. (kJ/kg )
outside the flame
Make a list of Cow dung cake 6000-800
gets red hot. Does it
fuels familiar to you. Wood 17000-220
indicate that the
Group them as solid,
non-luminous zone Coal 25000-330
liquid and gaseous
of the flame has a Petrol 450
fuels as in Table 6.3.
high temperature? Kerosene 450
Fig. 6.11 : Goldsmith
In fact, this part of blowing through a Diesel 450
the flame is the
6.7 Fuel
metallic pipe Methane 500
hottest part [Fig. Efficiency
CNG 500
6.10(d)]. 6.6 What is a Suppose you were LPG 550
Goldsmiths blow Fuel? asked to boil a given
the outermost zone of Biogas 35000-400
quantity of water
Recall that the Hydrogen 15000
a flame with a using cow dung, coal
sources of heat Burning of Fuels
metallic blow-pipe and LPG as fuel.
energy for domestic Leads to Harmful
for Which fuel would
and industrial Products
you prefer? Give
purposes are mainly
your reason. You
66 S CIENCE
The increasing fuel leads to Global warming Moreover,
consumption has deforestation is the rise in petrol engines
harmful effects on which is quite temperature of give off gaseous
the environment. harmful to the the atmosphere oxides of
environment, as of the earth.
1. Carbon fuels nitrogen.
you learnt in This results,
like wood, Class VII. among other Oxides of
coal,petroleum 2. Incomplete things, in the sulphur and
release unburnt combustion of melting of polar nitrogen
carbon particles. these fuelsgives glaciers, which dissolve in rain
These fine carbon leads to a rise in water and form
particles are the sea level, acids. Such rain
monoxide gas.
dangerous causing floods is called acid
It is a very in the coastal
pollutants poisonous gas. rain. It is very
areas. Low lying
causing It is dangerous harmful for
coastal areas
respiratory to burn coal in may even be crops, buildings
diseases, such a closed room. permanently and soil. You
as asthma. The carbon submerged have already
monoxide gas under water. learnt about it in
For centuries,
produced can Class VII.
wood was used as
domestic and kill persons 4. Burning of coal The use of
industrial fuel. sleeping in that and diesel diesel and petrol as
But now it has room. releasessulphur fuels in automobiles
been replaced by is being replaced by
coal and other CNG (Compressed
fuels like LPG. In Natural Gas),
Oh! So, that is
many rural parts because CNG
why we are
of our country,
advised never to produces the
people still use
sleep in a room harmful products in
wood as a fuel
with burning or dioxide gas. It is very small amounts.
because of its
easy availability smouldering coal an extremely CNG is a cleaner
and low cost. fire in it. suffocating and fuel.
However, burning corrosive gas.
of wood gives a 3. Combustion of
lot of smoke most fuels
which is very releasescarbon
harmful for dioxide in the
human beings. It TheHAVE
W HAT YOU substances
LEARNTwhich burn in air are called
environment.
causes respiratory Increased
problem. Also, combustible.
concentration of
trees provide us During
Oxygen the is
(in air) process of combustion,
essential heat and
for combustion.
with useful carbon dioxide
in the air is light are given out.
substances which
believed to Ignition temperature is the lowest temp
are lost when
wood is used as cause global which a combustible substance catches Inf
fuel. Moreover warming. fire.
cutting of trees substances
ignition have very low
temperature.
C OMBUSTION AND F LAME 67
Fire can be controlled by removing one or m
KEYWORDS requirements essential for producing3.fire. Explain how the use of CNG in
Water is commonly used to control fires. automobiles has reduced pollution in
ACID RAIN
ourcities.
electrical equipments or oils.
CALORIFIC VALUE 4. Compare LPG and wood as fuels.
5. Give reasons:
COMBUSTION
combustion, explosion, etc. (a) Water is not used to control fires
involving electrical equipment.
DEFORESTATION
(b) LPG is a better domestic fuel than
wood.
EXPLOSION zone.
(c) Paper by itself catches fire easily
FLAME whereas a piece of paper wrapped
around an aluminium pipe does not.
FIRE EXTINGUISHER 6. Make a labelled diagram of a candle flame.
residues that pollute the environment.
FUEL 7. Name the unit in which the calorific value
Fuels differ in their efficiency and cost.
of a fuel is expressed.
FUEL EFFICIENCY 8. Explain how CO2 is able to control fires.

GLOBAL WARMING kilojoule per kg. 9. It is difficult to burn a heap of green leaves
pollutants causing respiratory problems. but dry leaves catch fire easily. Explain.
IDEAL FUEL poisonous carbon monoxide gas. 10. Which zone of a flame does a goldsmith
has been linked to global warming. use for melting gold and silver andwhy?
IGNITION
11. In an experiment 4.5 kg of a fuel was
TEMPERATURE
completely burnt. The heat producedwas
measured to be 180,000 kJ. Calculate the
INFLAMMABLE
calorific value of the fuel.
SUBSTANCES and soil.
12. Can the process of rusting be called
combustion? Discuss.
13. Abida and Ramesh were doing an
experiment in which water was to beheated
in a beaker. Abida kept the beaker near the
wick in the yellow part of the candle flame.
Exercises Ramesh kept the beaker in the outermost
part of the flame. Whose water will get
1. List conditions under which combustion heated in a shorter time?
can take place.
Extended Learning — Activities and
2. Fill in the blanks:
Projects
(a) Burning of wood and coal causes of
air. 1. Survey the availability of various
(b) A liquid fuel, used in homes is . fuels in your locality. Find out their
(c) Fuel must be heated to its cost per kg and prepare a tabular
before it starts burning. chart showing how many kJ of
(d) Fire produced by oil cannot be various fuels you can get for every
controlled by . rupee.
2. Find out the number, type and
location of fire extinguishers
available in your school, nearby
66 S CIENCE
 shops and factories. Write a brief
report about the preparedness of
these establishments to fight fire.
3. Survey 100 houses in your area.
Find the percentage of households
using LPG, kerosene, wood and
cattledung as fuel.
4. Talk to people who use LPG at
home. Find out what precautions
they take in using LPG.
5. Make a model of a fire

extinguisher. Place a short candle

and a slightly taller candle in a

small dish filled with baking soda.

Place the dish at the bottom of a

large bowl. Light both the candles.

Then pour vinegar into the dish of

baking soda. Take care. Do not

pour vinegar on the candles.

Observe the foaming reaction.

What happens to the candles?

Why? In what order? baking soda

+ vinegar

Fig. 6.12

For more information, visit:

www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/chem03/
chem03767.htm
http://www.einstrumentsgroup.com/gas_an
alyzers/combustion/ what-is-
combustion.php
http://library.kcc.hawaii.edu/external/chem
istry/ everyday_combustion.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/combustion
http://wwwchem.csustan.edu/consumer/fue
ls/heats%20.htm
C OMBUSTION AND F LAME 67