Is hydrocarbon combustion an oxidation reaction with respect to the carbon?
Answers
Answer:
In its simplest form, oxidation is the addition of oxygen. In a combustion reaction oxygen is combined with the fuel source usually carbon and hydrogen based resulting in carbon dioxide and water and so this is an oxidation reaction. Another definition of oxidation is the removal of hydrogen, and for hydrocarbon fuels, the hydrogen bonds break away from the carbon atoms and so again by this definition, combustion is an oxidation reaction. A further definition of oxidation is the loss of electrons, however when a more electronegative element such as oxygen takes the place of a less electronegative element like hydrogen, the net effect is that the bonding electrons are attracted more towards the oxygen, giving a net effect of oxidation by the third definition.
Answer:
Oxidation Reactions:
In a combustion reaction, carbon compounds are oxidized in the presence of oxygen.
Though combustion is generally an oxidation reaction, not all oxidation reactions are combustion reactions.
Oxidation is also carried out by using oxidizing agents (Oxidants).