Combustion

chemistry · fire · heat · reactions

What makes fire?. Combustion happens when a fuel (like wood or gas) reacts with oxygen in a super-hot chemical reaction. This reaction releases lots of heat and often creates light, which is what we see as a flame.

It needs a spark. Combustion won't start on its own, it needs energy to get going, like a spark or match. But once it starts, the heat from the flames can keep the reaction going all by itself.

Smoke is the byproduct. When things burn, they create gases and other stuff floating in the air called smoke. Sometimes combustion happens without visible flames, but smoke might still be there.

It's about temperature. The key to combustion is reaching a high enough temperature for the fuel and oxygen to react together. That's why you need heat to start a fire, and why fires burn hotter with more oxygen.

Science studies it carefully. Combustion science is the study of how burning works, helping people understand everything from car engines to controlled campfires.