KEYWORDS
Combustion and Its Importance
Combustion is defined as a chemical process in which a substance reacts with oxygen, resulting in the release of heat and light. Substances that undergo combustion are known as combustible or fuel. Fuels can be solid, liquid, or gas, and their primary requirement for combustion includes a sufficient supply of oxygen, appropriate heat, and an ignition temperature that the fuel must reach before it ignites.
Types and Properties of Fuels
This section also differentiates between various fuels used in homes and industries, highlighting combustible materials like wood, kerosene, and coal, compared to non-combustible items like iron and stone. It demonstrates through activities how different materials respond when subjected to heat, outlining their combustion characteristics, fire control measures, and the necessity of air for burning.
Types of Combustion
The section explains various combustion types:
1. Rapid Combustion - Occurring at a fast pace, producing heat and light, illustrated by gas stoves.
2. Spontaneous Combustion - A type that ignites without an external flame, like certain coal dust cases.
3. Explosion - Here enormous heat, light, sound, and gas are released suddenly, often observed with fireworks.
Environmental Concerns
The implications of burning fuels lead to harmful by-products that affect air quality, namely carbon monoxide, causing pollution and health risks. Additionally, burning processes contribute to global issues like global warming and acid rain, culminating in essential discussions on replacing harmful fuels with cleaner alternatives like CNG.
Overall, this section emphasizes combustion's fundamental role in energy production while highlighting the urgent need to address its environmental impact.