Reactions with oxygen

Oxygen is one of three extremely electronegativity elements that react with almost any substance
(the other two are fluorine and chlorine), and as it is the most abundant element of the three it is the most common
reactant present.
Slow reactions with oxygen are called oxidisation reactions (or rusting). In this type of reaction the substance
(usually a metal). Faster reactions with oxygen are called combustion reactions (or burning).
These reactions both produce the relevant oxides, for example when hydrocarbons are burnt, since hydrocarbons
have atoms of hydrogen which combine to form water, and atoms of carbon which combine to form carbon
dioxide.
Combustion reactions
An important group of oxidation-reduction reactions called combustion reactions involve the burning of a substance,
usually in air to produce heat and light energy. The oxidising agent, usually oxygen, reacts with another reactant
resulting in the release of chemical energy from the system as heat. As a result, combustion reactions are exothermic.
Examples:
i. magnesium + oxygen magnesium oxide + energy
2Mg + O
2
2MgO + energy
ii. butane + oxygen carbon dioxide + water + energy
2C
4
H
6
+ 11O
2
8CO
2
+ 6H
2
O

+ energy
In the case of a candle, when a lit match is brought near its wick, then the hydrocarbons molecules (such as C
30
H
62
)
present in a solid state change to a liquid and move upwards on the wick. These molecules present as a liquid then
become a gas at the top of the wick, and mix with the surrounding oxygen allowing combustion to occur. The light
from a candle is due to the unburnt particles that are excited emitting yellow light.
Complete combustion
When ignited with a plentiful supply of oxygen, hydrocarbons undergo complete combustion to produce water,
carbon dioxide and large quantities of heat. This makes hydrocarbons extremely useful as fuels.
If temperatures exceed above 1300C due to complete combustion, then a reaction between the nitrogen in the air, to
result in the formation of nitrogen oxides (NO and NO
2
) which react with water to produce nitric and nitrous acids,
and reacts with oxygen to produce nitrogen and ozone. Fossil fuels often contain traces of compounds containing
sulfur, which when burned release toxic sulfur dioxide (which forms sulfur trioxide). These can result in acid rain due to
reacting with water to form sulfurous and sulfuric acids.
Incomplete combustion
If excess oxygen is present, complete combustion occurs. But if there is not enough oxygen to facilitate the complete
combustion reaction than incomplete combustion occurs. During incomplete combustion, the products include
water, carbon monoxide and carbon in the form of soot. A poorly tuned engine where the fuel/air mixture is too rich
(i.e. too much fuel and not enough oxygen supply) contributes to incomplete combustion as well as poor engine
performance and increased pollution to the environment.
Incomplete combustion is not only inefficient but it is also harmful to the environment.
Carbon monoxide, carbon (soot) and unburnt fuel all are contributors to pollution.
Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless and toxic gas. It interferes with the functioning of haemoglobin as an
oxygen carrier in the blood. Idling vehicles produce large quantities of carbon monoxide.
Carbon coats surfaces especially the leaves of plants, preventing photosynthesis.