What is an example of a toxic product of combustion? (2023)

What is an example of a toxic product of combustion?

Carbon monoxide (CO) is the most common asphyxiant product in most fire environments and is formed during both smouldering and flaming combustion of all organic materials [6, 8].

What is carbon monoxide (CO) and how is it produced? Carbon monoxide (CO) is a deadly, colorless, odorless, poisonous gas. It is produced by the incomplete burning of various fuels, including coal, wood, charcoal, oil, kerosene, propane, and natural gas.

Hence, the products of a combustion reaction are carbon dioxide and water.

When burned they produce oxides of carbon: carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. If smoke is produced in a fire, it will contain particulates, usually of carbon. As carbon monoxide is a toxic gas it can be assumed that all smoke is toxic and products of combustion will either be toxic or asphyxiant.

Combustion is commonly called burning, and the substance that burns is usually referred to as fuel. The products of a complete combustion reaction include carbon dioxide (CO₂) and water vapor (H₂O).

Combustion residues depend on the original chemical composition of fuels and, as most fuels are carbon-based, two highly harmful gases for the human body are often produced: carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide.

The major lethal factors in uncontrolled fires are toxic gases, heat, and oxygen deficiency. The predominant toxic gas is carbon monoxide, which is readily generated from the combusion of wood and other cellulosic materials.

Burning candle wax is a good example of complete combustion. Heat from the burning wick vaporizes wax (a hydrocarbon). Wax reacts with oxygen, releasing carbon dioxide and water. The wax burns away and the carbon dioxide and water dissipate into the air.

Smoke occurs when there is incomplete combustion (not enough oxygen to burn the fuel completely). In complete combustion, everything is burned, producing just water and carbon dioxide. When incomplete combustion occurs, not everything is burned. Smoke is a collection of these tiny unburned particles.

The Products

The first product of organic combustion is carbon dioxide. The second product of organic combustion is water, typically released as water vapor. The third product of organic combustion is energy, released as heat or heat and light.

What do you mean by product of combustion?

Products of combustion are the end product when fuels, such as hydrocarbons, remain after the process of combustion. Thus, these are released and scattered into the atmosphere. Combustion is referred to as an exothermic reaction involving an oxidant and a fuel along with heat production.

The waste may be liquid, solid, or sludge and contain chemicals, heavy metals, radiation, pathogens, or other materials. Even households generate hazardous waste, from items such as batteries, used computer equipment, and leftover paints or pesticides.

Toxic waste results from industrial, chemical, and biological processes. Toxins are found in household, office, and commercial wastes.

Richard Fuller (RF): Toxic pollution is contaminated water, soil, and air that is harmful or poisonous. It includes industrial wastes like toxic heavy metals from mining or chemicals from factories, and also sewage and particulates from power plants.

Examples of Combustion Reactions

Burning of wood or other solid fuels such as coal in winters: The carbon content present in wood or coal reacts with oxygen in the atmosphere to release heat and form other gaseous products. The liquefied petroleum gas is released from the cylinders through the holes in the burner.

Carbon monoxide, which is odourless and colourless, is the most abundant toxic gas. Having a similar density to air, it mixes easily and is readily inhaled. It is a renowned “silent killer” in domestic environments. Any process where there is incomplete combustion of carbon fuel is likely to produce carbon monoxide.

Among the best known toxic gases are carbon monoxide, chlorine, nitrogen dioxide and phosgene.

Carbon monoxide is a very poisonous gas and is responsible for a high percentage of deaths occurring in accidents involving fires.

Is smoke a toxic gas?

All smoke contains carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and particulate matter (PM or soot). Smoke can contain many different chemicals, including aldehydes, acid gases, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), benzene, toluene, styrene, metals and dioxins.

Natural Wool Insulation is able to resist flame and does not easily ignite, due to its high nitrogen and moisture content. Because there is not enough oxygen to allow it to burn, wool will self-extinguish. Not only is wool a natural flame retardant but it also doesn't emit noxious fumes, which can be toxic if inhaled.

Types of Combustion

Rapid combustion – When combustion occurs rapidly, it is called rapid combustion. Spontaneous combustion – The type of combustion in which material suddenly bursts into flames, without the application of any apparent cause is called spontaneous combustion. Eg, Burning of phosphorus.

Answer: Combustion is the process of burning of substances to give heat and light.

Combustion is applicable to two types of fire: Flaming combustion and smoldering combustion [13].

Combustion is a high-temperature exothermic (heat releasing) redox (oxygen adding) chemical reaction between a fuel and an oxidant, usually atmospheric oxygen, that produces oxidized, often gaseous products, in a mixture termed as smoke.

The correct answer is oxygen. oxygen is not a product of a combustion reaction.

Yellow smoke symbolizes poisonous gas [Image 20 of 32]

Some of the common pollutants produced from burning these fuels are carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, particles, and sulfur dioxide. Particles can have hazardous chemicals attached to them. Other pollutants that can be produced by some appliances are unburned hydrocarbons and aldehydes.

Carbon monoxide is harmful when breathed because it displaces oxygen in the blood and deprives the heart, brain and other vital organs of oxygen. Large amounts of CO can overcome you in minutes without warning — causing you to lose consciousness and suffocate.

What products are most commonly seen in a combustion reaction?

Many combustion reactions occur with a hydrocarbon, a compound made up solely of carbon and hydrogen. The products of the combustion of hydrocarbons are carbon dioxide and water. Many hydrocarbons are used as fuel because their combustion releases very large amounts of heat energy.

Carbon dioxide (CO₂)

Carbon dioxide is the principal product of combustion of fossil fuels since carbon accounts for 60–90 percent of the mass of fuels that we burn.

During the combustion process, as the fuel and oxidizer are turned into exhaust products, heat is generated. Interestingly, some source of heat is also necessary to start combustion.

chemical reactions:combustion. Combustion reactions always involve molecular oxygen O2. Anytime anything burns (in the usual sense), it is a combustion reaction. Combustion reactions are almost always exothermic (i.e., they give off heat).

During combustion, the carbon (C) from the fuel combines with oxygen (O2) from the air to produce carbon dioxide (CO2).

There are five different forms of combustion- complete combustion, incomplete combustion, rapid combustion, spontaneous combustion, and explosion.

The products of complete combustion of a hydrocarbon gas are? Water and carbon dioxide. The three things necessary for combustion are? Fuel, oxygen, and heat.

Toxic waste is any unwanted material in all forms that can cause harm (e.g. by being inhaled, swallowed, or absorbed through the skin). Mostly generated by industry, consumer products like televisions, computers and phones contain toxic chemicals that can pollute the air and contaminate soil and water.

Toxic Waste is a line of sour candies owned and marketed by American company Candy Dynamics Inc., which is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. The products are sold primarily in the United States and Canada as well as several international markets such as the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa.

Pesticides and other garden chemicals. Petrol and kerosene.

What is hazardous waste explain briefly about the environmental problems and health risks caused by hazardous wastes?

According to Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), hazardous wastes are defined as any waste or combination of wastes which pose a substantial present or potential hazard to human health or living organisms because such wastes are non‐degradable or persistent in nature or because they can be biologically ...

Exposure to chemicals commonly used in workplaces can lead to a variety of short- and long-term health effects such as poisoning, skin rashes and disorders of the lung, kidney and liver.

ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS CAN AFFECT HUMAN HEALTH

Environmental hazards—like water and air pollution, extreme weather, or chemical exposures—can affect human health in a number of ways, from contributing to chronic diseases like cancer or to acute illnesses like heat exhaustion.

Some examples of toxic substances include ammonia, acid, bleach, chlorine, and carbon monoxide. These substances can cause adverse health effects when used improperly. Even common toxic substances like cleaning products can be dangerous or deadly if inhaled, touched, or swallowed.

Nitrogen Dioxide

NO² is the most harmful of these compounds and is generated from the combustion of fuel engines and industry. It can damage the human heart and lungs and it reduces atmospheric visibility at high concentrations.

The effects of toxicants in flowing waters are modified by unidirectional transport and dispersion which afford the potential for a degree of 'self-purification'. The chemical quality of the receiving water also affects toxicity. Biological factors also contribute to the ultimate effect of pollutants.

The major lethal factors in uncontrolled fires are toxic gases, heat, and oxygen deficiency. The predominant toxic gas is carbon monoxide, which is readily generated from the combusion of wood and other cellulosic materials.

Carbon monoxide is a very poisonous gas and is responsible for a high percentage of deaths occurring in accidents involving fires.

As long as there is enough fuel and oxygen, the fire keeps burning. Fuel + oxygen (from the air) = combustion products (mainly CO₂ + H₂O) + heat energy.

Smoke occurs when there is incomplete combustion (not enough oxygen to burn the fuel completely). In complete combustion, everything is burned, producing just water and carbon dioxide. When incomplete combustion occurs, not everything is burned. Smoke is a collection of these tiny unburned particles.

Which gas is most toxic?

Carbon monoxide, which is odourless and colourless, is the most abundant toxic gas. Having a similar density to air, it mixes easily and is readily inhaled. It is a renowned “silent killer” in domestic environments. Any process where there is incomplete combustion of carbon fuel is likely to produce carbon monoxide.

All smoke contains carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and particulate matter (PM or soot). Smoke can contain many different chemicals, including aldehydes, acid gases, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), benzene, toluene, styrene, metals and dioxins.

Fossil fuels consisting mainly of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulfur, and oxygen produce the following products during combustion: The primary pollutants are Carbon Monoxide (CO), Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Sulfur (SO2), Nitrogen Dioxide (NOx), Nitric Oxide (N2O), Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and Hydrocarbons (HCs).

Death may be due to the effects of breathing the products of fire/ burning, principally carbon monoxide, but also cyanide and many other toxic by-products of combustion.

Water is formed in combustion by oxidation of hydrogen in hydrocarbon fuels, and thereby adds water to the hydrologic cycle and atmospheric water stores.

Some of the common pollutants produced from burning these fuels are carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, particles, and sulfur dioxide. Particles can have hazardous chemicals attached to them.

Yellow smoke symbolizes poisonous gas [Image 20 of 32]

To summarize, for combustion to occur three things must be present: a fuel to be burned, a source of oxygen, and a source of heat. As a result of combustion, exhausts are created and heat is released.

Contact. Combustion pollutants are the gases and particles made by burning any fuel, such as wood, natural gas, kerosene, charcoal, or tobacco. The major indoor combustion pollutants are carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), fine and ultrafine particles, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and formaldehyde ...