combustion is a process of chemical change or transformation that involves an element or compound burning in oxygen.

It is a redox reaction as it involves a transfer of electrons from the metal or non-metal (reducing agent) to oxygen (oxidising agent)

hydrocarbon and alcohols are used as fuel as their combustion reaction releases energy at a reasonable rate to be useful. however, the reaction is not spontaneous as though they are energetically less stable as compared to their combustion products, they are kinetically stable, and hence have a sufficiently high activation energy for them to be stored and transported safely

Metals form basic, ionic oxides while non-metals form acidic, covalent oxides

complete combustion takes place when the supply of air is not limited, and it forms carbon dioxide and water as products

the complete combustion of hydrocarbon involves the breaking of carbon chains which results in the production of CO2 and H2O

when the air supply is limited or when the compound has a high percentage carbon by mass, and it produces carbon monoxide and carbon (soot)

The amount of soot produced can be used to distinguish different hydrocarbons

readily available, plentiful, cheap, provide high quality energy at a reasonable rate, have minimal impact on the environment

Most of the energy used by humans is harnessed indirectly from the sun by burning fossil fuels

energy from fossil fuels comes from the sunlight which is trapped by green plants millions of years ago. And they are produced by the slow and partial decomposition of plant and animal matter, that are trapped in the absence of air. O2 is lost at a faster rate as compared to other elements, from biological molecules and hence the reduced biological molecules are mainly hydrocarbons

it is a combustible sedimentary rock formed from the remains of plant life that is subjected to geological heat and pressure, which changed the plant material in stages to increase percentage of carbon content

Contains 80 - 90% carbon content by mass ; it occurs in many areas around the world but mainly in the northern atmosphere

complex mixture of straight chained, branched chain saturated alkanes, cycloalkanes, aromatics compounds, as well as in small amounts, compounds of nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur.

it is formed over millions of years from the remains of marine organisms (plants and animals) that are trapped under layers of rocks. under conditions of high temperature, high pressure, presence of bacteria and absence of air, the organic matter will decay

limited supply and hence other options have to be considered

formed millions of years ago by the action of heat, pressure and maybe bacteria on buried organic matter. the gas is trapped in geological formations, capped under impermeable rocks.

main constituent is methane and some compounds of nitrogen and sulfur as impurities

formed by the decomposition of coal and crude oil deposits (occur naturally on its own as a layer above oil reservoir or dissolved under pressure in oil)

cleanest of all 3 fossil fuels (lower percentage carbon content)

easily transported in pipelines so little energy is required to transport it from the ground to consumers

massive capital is needed to set up a distribution network