What is the Difference Between Combustion and Burning?

The main difference between combustion and burning lies in the presence of flames and the energy conversion process. Here are the key differences:

1. Presence of Flames: Combustion is a flameless reaction, whereas burning involves the production of flames. During combustion, a substance called fuel reacts with oxygen to give out heat, and it is not necessary for a substance undergoing combustion to produce a flame. In contrast, burning is a subset of the combustion process, and a flame is mandatory during the reaction.
2. Energy Conversion: In combustion, more heat is produced compared to burning, where most of the energy is converted to light energy and less heat is generated. Since most of the energy is converted to light energy in burning, this results in less heat energy as compared to combustion.
3. Types of Fuels: Combustion mostly takes place in hydrocarbons, while burning mostly occurs in solid fuels.

In summary, combustion is a flameless reaction that produces more heat, while burning is a process involving flames and energy conversion primarily to light energy, resulting in less heat. Both processes involve a substance reacting with oxygen, but they differ in their energy conversion and the presence of flames.

Comparative Table: Combustion vs Burning

Here is a table comparing the differences between combustion and burning:

In summary, combustion is a chemical reaction that involves burning a fuel in the presence of an oxidant to release energy and heat, while burning is a subset of the combustion process that always involves a flame. Complete combustion occurs when there is sufficient oxygen for the fuel to burn, while incomplete combustion occurs when there is not enough oxygen. Combustion is a fundamental process in various applications, while burning is a specific aspect of combustion that involves a flame.