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What Is Produced When You Burn a Hydrocarbon?

A hydrocarbon is any compound made up of only hydrogen and carbon. Examples include alkanes (methane, CH4), alkenes (like ethylene, C2H4), alkynes (like acetylene, C2H2) and aromatic compounds like benzene (C6H6). Hydrocarbons are also found in petroleum, natural gas and coal.

Products
- Burning a hydrocarbon refers to two things: the hydrocarbon can be any one of a number of hydrocarbons and its reaction with oxygen. The products of such a reaction are carbon dioxide (CO2), water (H2O) and energy. This is referred to as complete combustion. Other products, especially in an incomplete combustion, are carbon monoxide and carbon particles (also known as soot).
Complete Combustion
- Methane is the simplest hydrocarbon. When methane and oxygen are combined, the products are carbon dioxide, water and energy. The chemical equation is expressed as CH4 + 2O2 ---> CO2 + 2H2O + energy. This is the complete combustion equation. Methane is in its gaseous form for this reaction. The water that is produced is given off as steam or vapor. Methane is also the main component of natural gas, so when natural gas is burned, it will release fewer byproducts.
Incomplete Combustion
- Incomplete combustion of methane occurs when the products are carbon monoxide and water. This is the result of not enough oxygen being available to react with the methane. The chemical equation is expressed as 2CH4 + 3O2 ? 2CO + 4H2O. Most or all of the carbon entering into the chemical reaction will turn into carbon monoxide. Incomplete combustion may also produce carbon particles called soot. In incomplete combustion, the carbon particles will glow, thus turning the flame yellow. This will, in turn, create the black smoke you see rising from a large fire.
Carbon Monoxide
- Carbon monoxide is a dangerous byproduct of incomplete combustion. Oxygen binds to the hemoglobin in the blood to be carried throughout the body. However, if there is carbon monoxide present, it will bind to the same sites that oxygen does, thus preventing oxygen to bind to the hemoglobin. Because carbon monoxide binds permanently to the hemoglobin, it makes that specific hemoglobin molecule useless for transporting oxygen. If enough carbon monoxide is breathed in, a person will eventually die from carbon monoxide poisoning because there isn't enough oxygen in the body for the cells to stay alive.

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