Combustion is a chemical reaction between a hydrocarbon fuel

and an oxidant. It is the most important form of energy conversion.

Combustion includes thermal, hydrodynamic, and chemical processes.
The process of combustion starts with the mixing of fuel and
oxidant, and sometimes in the presence of additional compounds or
catalysts. The fuel/oxidant mixture can be ignited with a heat
source; chemical reactions between fuel and oxidant then take place
and the heat released from the reactions makes the process self-
sustaining. Combustion products include heat, light, chemical
species, pollutants, mechanical work, and plasma.
Shen-Lin Chang, Chenn Qian Zhou,
Combustion and Thermochemistry,
Editor(s): Cutler J. Cleveland,
Encyclopedia of Energy,
Elsevier,
2004,
Pages 595-603,
ISBN 9780121764807,
https://doi.org/10.1016/B0-12-176480-X/00087-5.
(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B012176480X000875)

Dating back over the past years, the true nature of combustion
was not well-established and scientifically interpreted. In the
18th century, chemistry was not considered a true science and was
heavily influenced by ancient Greek ideas and the legacy of
medieval alchemists.It was until, French chemist, Antoine-Laurent
Lavoisier, discovered the true nature combustion; his discoveries
paved the way to the advancement of Chemistry.The dominant chemical
concept during Lavoisier's time was the phlogiston theory,
introduced by Georg Ernst Stahl. According to this theory,
combustible substances contained a universal component called
phlogiston, which was lost to the air during combustion, resulting
in a decrease in weight.However,the phlogiston theory faced
challenges and inconsistencies, particularly when metals, heated in
air, gained weight instead of losing it, which contradicted the
theory.This turned Lavoisier’s curiosity to the study of
combustion. Lavoisier conducted experiments with phosphorus,
sulfur, and lead calx (oxide), which demonstrated that these
substances gained weight when combined with air during combustion.
These findings did not align with the phlogiston theory. Despite
the discovery, Lavoisier realized that combustion involved the
interaction with air, although the exact composition of air was not
well understood at the time.Thus, to make things clear, Lavoisier
collaborated with Joseph Priestley, who had discovered a gas he
called "dephlogisticated air," which supported combustion and
respiration. Lavoisier concluded that common air had two
components: one supporting combustion and respiration and another
that did not.
Lavoisier has then proposed a new theory of combustion, excluding
phlogiston, and introduced the term "oxygène" for the component
that supported combustion. In this theory, Lavoisier believed that
combustion means combining substances with oxygen. Although
Lavoisier’s theory seemed to be perfect, it was still doubted
because of the "inflammable air" (hydrogen), Henry Cavendish
isolated in 1766. The “inflammable air”gets burned readily.
During experiments with this gas, Henry Cavendish observed the
formation of water when it reacted with common air.This discovery
became a challenge to the theory of Lavoisier. In order to remove
doubts about his new chemical framework, in 1783, he reacted oxygen
with inflammable air (hydrogen) and he realized that water was not
an element but a compound of oxygen and hydrogen. After all the
struggles, he was able to establish the theory and made a name in
the discovery of combustion.
American Chemical Society International Historic Chemical Landmarks. Antoine-Laurent Lavoisier: The
Chemical Revolution. http://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/whatischemistry/landmarks/
lavoisier.html

Previously, combustion is defined as a chemical process in

which a substance reacts rapidly with oxygen and gives off heat.
( Nancy Hall, May 2021, National Aeronautics and Space
Administration.https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/airplane/combst1.html#:~:text=Combustion
%20is%20a%20chemical%20process,oxygen%20is%20called%20the%20oxidizer.) Now, the heat
given off by a substance as it undergoes combustion can be
determined and quantified. This is called heat of combustion, or
defined as the amount of energy released when a substance is burned
in the presence of oxygen. Considered to be synonymous to heat of
combustion is the caloric value, which can be defined as the total
amount of energy liberated when a given mass of a substance
undergoes complete combustion in the presence of (an adequate
quantity of) oxygen under standard conditions for temperature and
pressure (BYJU’S, 2011) https://byjus.com/chemistry/heat-of-combustion/.
Experimental measurement of the heat of combustion is often carried
out using calorimetry. Calorimetry is used to measure quantities of
heat, and can be used to determine the heat of a reaction through
experiments
(LibreTexts,2023)https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Physical_and_Theoretical_Chemistry_T
extbook_Maps/Supplemental_Modules_(Physical_and_Theoretical_Chemistry)/Thermodynamics/Calorimetry/
Constant_Volume_Calorimetry#:~:text=Calorimetry%20is%20used%20to%20measure,or%20bomb%20calorimetry
%20is%20ideal..
Calorimetry involves burning a known quantity of a
substance in a calorimeter and measuring the resulting temperature
change to calculate the heat released. On the other hand, the heat
of combustion is utilized to quantify the performance of a fuel in
a combustion system such as furnaces, motors and power generation
turbines. It is the same as the gross heating value or energy
content.Thus, to ensure consistency and allow for meaningful
comparisons between different substances, the heat of combustion is
typically reported at standard conditions (25°C and 1 atm
pressure).The Engineering ToolBox (2017). Combustion
Heat.https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/standard-heat-of-combustion-energy-content-d_1987.html
Furthermore, understanding the concept of heat of combustion is
crucial in the context of fuels. It helps determine the energy
content of various fuels, such as hydrocarbons (e.g., natural gas,
gasoline, and coal). The higher the heat of combustion, the more
energy is released when the fuel is burned.Not only that, the heat
of combustion is essential in assessing the efficiency of
combustion processes in engines, power plants, and heating systems.
It helps engineers and scientists optimize these processes for
maximum energy utilization.
These concepts and theories about heat of combustion play a
critical role in many scientific and engineering disciplines,
including thermodynamics, chemical engineering, and environmental
science, and are critical for understanding and optimizing energy
processes as well as assessing their environmental impact.