Which equation describes a combustion reaction?

Which equation describes a combustion reaction?

• A. Fuel + Oxidiser = Products + Energy
• B. Acid + Base = Salt + Water
• C. Salt + Water = Acid + Base
• D. Energy = Fuel + Oxidiser

Answer: (A)

Combustion is a reaction where a fuel reacts with an oxidizer, usually oxygen, and releases energy as heat (and often light). In a concise way, you combine a fuel with an oxidizer to form the reaction’s products and the energy that’s released. Energy is produced, not consumed, so it appears on the product side of the equation. That’s why the general form is Fuel + Oxidizer → Products + Energy. The other descriptions refer to different kinds of reactions (such as acid–base neutralization) or mix up the roles of energy and reactants, so they don’t describe combustion.

Combustion is a reaction where a fuel reacts with an oxidizer, usually oxygen, and releases energy as heat (and often light). In a concise way, you combine a fuel with an oxidizer to form the reaction’s products and the energy that’s released. Energy is produced, not consumed, so it appears on the product side of the equation. That’s why the general form is Fuel + Oxidizer → Products + Energy.

The other descriptions refer to different kinds of reactions (such as acid–base neutralization) or mix up the roles of energy and reactants, so they don’t describe combustion.