Question

Why is combustion reaction also called oxidation reaction

Answer 1

Oxidation is the process of addition of oxygen molecule. In combustion also the burning substance react with oxygen to produce respective oxide with evolution of heat.

So all the combustion reactions are exothermic oxidation reaction.

It can also be expained as:
Combustion means the reaction of a compound with atmospheric oxygen. On the other hand oxidation means:-i) Addition of oxygenii) Removal of hydrogeniii) Loss of electronTherefore when a compound/atom react with oxygen it becomes a new compound containing oxygen which satisfy the first condition of oxidation so, combustion is oxidation.Example:-C + O2 -------- CO2Oxidation of C.

{Note:Satisfaction of any one of the above condition means oxidation. There is no need to fulfill all the three.}