Combustion and Flame

NCERT Solutions for Chapter 6 Combustion and Flame Class 8 Science

Book Solutions

1

List conditions under which combustion can take place.

Answer

The conditions required for combustion to take place are:
→ Presence of a fuel
→ Air (or oxygen)
→ Ignition temperature (minimum temperature at which a substance catches fire).
Exercises Page Number 75

2

Fill in the blanks:
(a) Burning of wood and coal causes _________of air.
(b) A liquid fuel used in homes is ___________.
(c) Fuel must be heated to its ___________ before it starts burning.
(d) Fire produced by oil cannot be controlled by _________.

Answer

(a) Burning of wood and coal causes pollution of air.
(b) A liquid fuel used in homes is LPG.
(c) Fuel must be heated to its ignition temperature before it starts burning.
(d) Fire produced by oil cannot be controlled by water.
Exercises Page Number 75

3

Explain how the use of CNG in automobiles has reduced pollution in our cities.

Answer

Combustion of fuels like petroleum causes formation of un-burnt carbon particles along with carbon monoxide gas. These harmful pollutants enter the air and cause respiratory diseases. Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) produces these harmful products in very less quantity. It is a comparatively cleaner fuel. Therefore, the use of CNG has reduced pollution in our cities.
Exercises Page Number 75

4

Compare LPG and wood as fuels.

Answer

LPG

Wood

It has more calorific value about 55000 kJ/kg

It has less calorific value about 17000 to 22000 kJ/kg

It does not cause any environmental problem.

On burning wood release unburnt carbon particles which cause diseases such as asthma

It is smokeless fuel.

It gives out lot of smoke

It is easy to store and can be easily transported in cylinders and pipelines.

It needs a lot of space to store also very difficult to transport.

Low Ignition temprature

High Ignition temprature

Exercises Page Number 75

5

Give reasons.
(a) Water is not used to control fires involving electrical equipment.
(b) LPG is a better domestic fuel than wood.
(c) Paper by itself catches fire easily whereas a piece of paper wrapped around an aluminium pipe does not.

Answer

(a) Water is a conductor of electricity, so it can easily conduct electric current and cause danger of electric shocks or short-circuits. Therefore, water can not be used to control the fire involving electrical equipment.

(b) LPG is a better domestic fuel as it does not produce smoke and un-burnt carbon particles, which cause respiratory problems.

(c) Paper by itself catches fire easily because it has low ignition temperature but when wrapped around an aluminium pipe its temperature is lowered due to aluminium metal absorbing the heat supplied to paper. So it does not catch fire.
Exercises Page Number 75

6

Make a labelled diagram of a candle flame.

Answer

Zones of Candle Flame
Exercises Page Number 75

7

Name the unit in which the calorific value of a fuel is expressed.

Answer

The calorific value of a fuel is expressed in kilojoules per kilogram (kJ/kg).
Exercises Page Number 75

8

Explain how CO2 is able to control fires.

Answer

Being heavier than oxygen, CO2 covers the fire like a blanket. Since the contact between the fuel and oxygen is cut off, the fire is controlled.

Exercises Page Number 75

9

It is difficult to burn a heap of green leaves but dry leaves catch fire easily. Explain.

Answer

Green leaves have a lot of moisture in them. This moisture does not allow them to catch fire easily. However, dry leaves have no moisturein them. Therefore, they catch fire easily.
Exercises Page Number 75

10

Which zone of a flame does a goldsmith use for melting gold and silver and why?

Answer

A goldsmith uses the outer part of the candle flame for melting gold and silver because in this zone the temperature is the highest which helps to melt these metals easily.
Exercises Page Number 75

11

In an experiment 4.5 kg of a fuel was completely burnt. The heat produced was measured to be 180,000 kJ. Calculate the calorific value of the fuel.

Answer

The calorific value of fuel is the amount of heat produced by the complete combustion of 1 kg of fuel.
Now,
Heat produced by 4.5 kg of fuel = 180000 kJ
Therefore, heat produced by 1Kg of fuel = 180000/4.5
= 40,000 kJ/kg
Hence, the calorific value of the fuel is 40,000 kJ/kg.
Exercises Page Number 75

12

Can the process of rusting be called combustion? Discuss.

Answer

Combustion is a chemical process in which a substance reacts with oxygen and gives out energy during the process in the form of either heat or light or both. Rusting of iron is an exothermic process as heat is released during rusting. Hence, it is a kind of slow combustion.
Exercises Page Number 75

13

Abida and Ramesh were doing an experiment in which water was to be heated in a beaker. Abida kept the beaker near the wick in the yellow part of the candle flame. Ramesh kept the beaker in the  outermost part of the flame. Whose water will get heated in a shorter time?

Answer

The water in the Ramesh's beaker will heat up in a shorter time. This is because the outermost zone of a flame is the hottest zone, while the yellow zone (in which Abida had kept the beaker) is less hot.
Exercises Page Number 75