Humber Admissions Practice Test

What type of products can expectedly form from a combustion reaction?

1. Water and Carbon Dioxide

2. Only solids

3. Gases and Liquid

4. Only energy is released

The correct answer is: Water and Carbon Dioxide

In a combustion reaction, the primary products formed are water and carbon dioxide, especially when hydrocarbons are burned in the presence of sufficient oxygen. This is because a combustion reaction typically involves a fuel (often containing carbon and hydrogen) reacting with oxygen. The carbon in the fuel reacts with oxygen to produce carbon dioxide, while the hydrogen reacts with oxygen to form water vapor. The presence of both water and carbon dioxide as products reflects the complete combustion of the fuel. Incomplete combustion can lead to other byproducts like carbon monoxide or soot, but under ideal conditions, the expected products are indeed water and carbon dioxide. The other options are either too narrow or not complete descriptions of the combustion process. While solids, gases, and liquids can appear in various combustion reactions, the consistent products are water and carbon dioxide. Similarly, although energy is released during combustion, focusing solely on energy without acknowledging the formation of chemical products provides an incomplete picture of the reaction.