337I got this answer after a asked in a science forum. And I think this is the real, best and the clearest aswer:
"Combustion is the reaction of a fuel (combustible substance) with an oxidant (supporter of combustion). It is a redox reaction in which the fuel is oxidised in a highly exothermic reaction (that usually produces a flame).
Write a chemical equation for the reaction. The species that is oxidised is the fuel, the species that is reduced is the oxidant."
So, in combustion, the one that gets oxidised is the combustible substance and one which gets reduced is the supporter of combustion.
106Substances which do not burn themselves but help in the process of combustion are called supporters of combustion. Eg Oxygen. Whereas any substances that itself burns to form a new substance is known as combustible substances. Eg Methane.
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Sayan Sinha
·2013-03-19 09:58:39
Sir,
According to you, when anything burns in air, oxygen acts as a supporter of combustion as it helps in the process of burning, without burning itself. But, when wood (or anything) burns in air, oxygen does not act as a catalyst. It takes part in the reaction as a reactant, not as a helper or catalyst...
Sir, please can you explain clearly?
Thanx...
106
Bitan Chakraborty
·2013-03-20 00:04:20
A supporter of combustion does not mean that it is a catalyst. Oxygen definitely takes part in combustion and also enhances combustion. Just like CO2 is a non-supporter of combustion and hence used to extinguish fire.
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Sayan Sinha
·2013-03-24 02:56:20
"A leaf burns in air. Here, oxygen does not burn."
[I don't understand whats the logic behind saying so.]
What is the meaning of the statement "leaf burns in air"?
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Sayan Sinha
·2013-03-25 00:29:54
We can also say that oxygen, in presence of leaf, will continue to burn... What difference does that make?
Vinayak Agrawal Nice
Upvote·0· Reply ·2013-06-20 10:28:49