The Products of Combustion
When fuels react with oxygen in the air, they burn and release large amounts of energy in the form of heat and light. The amount oxygen available affects whether a fuel will undergo complete or incomplete combustion. For a fuel to undergo complete combustion, plenty of oxygen must be present in order to make the products carbon dioxide and water. If there is insufficient oxygen then the fuel will undergo incomplete combustion, producing carbon (a black powdery solid also called soot), the poisonous gas carbon monoxide and water.
Complete and Incomplete Combustion Learning Objectives:
- To test for the products of combustion
- Identify complete and incomplete combustion.
Download These Lab Sheets for Your Students:
- 6-3 Lab Activity Student Edition - Complete and Incomplete Combustion (Doc)
- 6-3 Lab Activity Student Edition - Complete and Incomplete Combustion (PDF)
- 6-3 Lab Activity Teacher Edition - Complete and Incomplete Combustion (Member Only Doc)
- 6-3 Lab Activity Teacher Edition - Complete and Incomplete Combustion (Member Only PDF)
Incomplete and Complete Combustion Lab Materials
- Tea light candle
- Ice
- Cold water
- Lime water
- 250ml beaker
- 2 boiling tubes with a rack
- 2 double-holed rubber stoppers
- Lighter or matches
- Retort stand and clamp
- Glass funnel
- Glass tubing
- Pump
Safety:
- Safety glasses must be worn for the whole activity.
- Limewater is an irritant.
Complete and Incomplete Combustion Lab Procedure:
- Setup the equipment as shown in the diagram below.
- Light the tea light candle and carefully position it under the funnel.
- Start the pump.
- Record observations in the space provided.
Post-lab Questions:
- Name the product formed in first boiling tube.
- Name the product formed in the second boiling tube. How can you confirm the presence of this product?
- Name the fuel in this experiment.
- Is this experiment an example of complete and incomplete combustion? Give a reason for your choice.
- Are there any other observations (e.g., residue present or absent) which confirm your answer in question four?
- If the tea light candle was placed in an enclosed chamber instead of under a funnel and the test was carried out again, what would you expect to observe?
Here is your Free Content for this Complete and Incomplete Combustion Lesson!
Complete and Incomplete Combustion PDFs
- 6-3 Assignment SE - Complete and Incomplete Combustion (PDF)
- 6-3 Assignment TE - Complete and Incomplete Combustion (Member Only)
- 6-3 Bell Work SE - Complete and Incomplete Combustion (PDF)
- 6-3 Bell Work TE - Complete and Incomplete Combustion (Member Only)
- 6-3 Exit Quiz SE - Complete and Incomplete Combustion (PDF)
- 6-3 Exit Quiz TE - Complete and Incomplete Combustion (Member Only)
- 6-3 Guided Notes SE - Complete and Incomplete Combustion (PDF)
- 6-3 Guided Notes TE - Complete and Incomplete Combustion (Member Only)
- 6-3 Lesson Plan - Complete and Incomplete Combustion (PDF)
- 6-3 Online Activities - Complete and Incomplete Combustion (Member Only)
- 6-3 Slide Show - Complete and Incomplete Combustion (PDF)
- 6-3 Vocabulary Worksheet SE - Complete and Incomplete Combustion (PDF)
- 6-3 Vocabulary Worksheet TE - Complete and Incomplete Combustion (Member Only)
Incomplete and Complete Combustion Worksheets - Word Docs & PowerPoints
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