During combustion, what happens to oxygen and carbon dioxide?

Prepare for the WJEC GCSE Chemistry Exam with multiple choice questions and detailed explanations. Enhance your knowledge and boost your confidence. Get exam-ready today!

Multiple Choice

During combustion, what happens to oxygen and carbon dioxide?

Explanation:
During combustion, a fuel reacts with oxygen to form energy, carbon dioxide, and water. Oxygen is a reactant, so its amount in the surroundings decreases as the reaction proceeds. Carbon dioxide is a product, so its amount increases. That means oxygen goes down while carbon dioxide goes up, which is exactly what happens in a complete combustion reaction. The other possibilities would imply oxygen increasing or CO2 decreasing, which doesn’t happen because you’re consuming O2 and producing CO2.

During combustion, a fuel reacts with oxygen to form energy, carbon dioxide, and water. Oxygen is a reactant, so its amount in the surroundings decreases as the reaction proceeds. Carbon dioxide is a product, so its amount increases. That means oxygen goes down while carbon dioxide goes up, which is exactly what happens in a complete combustion reaction. The other possibilities would imply oxygen increasing or CO2 decreasing, which doesn’t happen because you’re consuming O2 and producing CO2.

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