We have been recently been covering combustion in Chemistry. I understand that complete combustion gives off water and carbon dioxide. However, incomplete combustion has 3 products and they are water, carbon monoxide and carbon. How do I find out what products are formed in the reaction? I know water is always produced but what about the carbon and carbon monoxide.
We have been recently been covering combustion in Chemistry. I understand that complete combustion gives off water and carbon dioxide. However, incomplete combustion has 3 products and they are water, carbon monoxide and carbon. How do I find out what products are formed in the reaction? I know water is always produced but what about the carbon and carbon monoxide.
Hiya,
Just as you've written in your post there are different products for complete and incomplete combustion.
Complete combustion: water, carbon dioxide
Incomplete combustion: water carbon monoxide and carbon particulates (they haven't combusted due to a lack of oxygen).
These products are formed in every equation. So you'll need to write out the combustion equation each time and balance it.