3.4 I can recall the products of complete and incomplete combustion of alkanes

1.       Saturated hydrocarbons are called Alkanes 

2.       Small chain Alkanes are used as fuels

3.       The reaction is called Combustion 

4.       The word equation for  this chemical reaction is :

fuel (Hydrocarbon) + Oxygen → Carbon Dioxide + Water + ENERGY (heat, light, sound)

5.       If there is insufficient oxygen then the word equation is:

fuel (Hydrocarbon) + Oxygen → Carbon monoxide + Water + ENERGY (heat, light, sound)

6.       The problem with this reaction is that Carbon monoxide is produced this gas is a Poison to the human body (see objective 5.11)

7.       Where can you find incomplete combustion? In your Car

8.       What is used to reduce the harmful products from incomplete combustion? A Catalytic Converter

9.       During incomplete combustion a smoky flame is often seen, explain this observation This is unburnt carbon 

Extn: write a balanced equation (with state symbols) for the combustion of propane gas

C₃H_8(g)+5O_2(g)→3CO_2(g)+4H₂O_(l)