Question

Which of the following shows an accurate combustion reaction?

Answer 1

Answer:

• Cu + O₂  → CuO₂

Explanation:

A combustion reaction is the reaction with oxygen along with the release of energy in form of heat or light.

Organic compounds (like CH₄) undergo combustion forming water and CO₂.

The combustion reaction of CH₄ is:

• CH₄ + 2O₂ → CO₂ + 2H₂O

Hence, the first equation from the choices is not showing the combustion reaction of CH₄.

Not only organic compounds can undergo combustion. Metals and no metals can undergo combustion, i.e. metals and no metals can react with oxygen releasing light or heat.

The reaction of copper and oxygen (second choice) is a combustion reaction:

• Cu + O₂ → CuO₂

The formation of water (2H₂ + O₂ → 2H₂O) is other example of a combustion reaction where no organic compounds are involved.

On the other hand, the other two equations from the choice list are not reactions with oxygen, so they do not show combustion reactions.