Question

On burning and piece of charcoal in an insufficient supply of air gas involved write the chemical equation for the reaction

Answer 1

The burning of coal in insufficient supply of oxygen forms carbon  monoxide, CO, while carbon dioxide (CO2) is formed if sufficient oxygen is present.
The chemical equations are:
 a.  C  +  O2 →  CO2 + heat + light
b.  2C +  O2 →  2CO  + heat +  light
Both reactions are combustion reactions.
Both gases are toxic and cause breathing problems on  inhalation.
CO is more dangerous than CO2 as  it is more toxic.  This is because it binds more efficiently than  carbondioxide  to  the oxygen carrying substance in blood (haemoglobin).