Big Manny GCSE Science Experiment: Combustion
What is combustion?
Combustion is the process of burning something. Big Manny shows the combustion of methane gas with the fuel reacting with the oxygen in the air, transferring heat and light into the surroundings.
Combustion experiment with a Bunsen burner
What I have here is a gas tap and methane gas comes out of this tap, and methane is a hydrocarbon composed of hydrogen and carbon.
Now combustion of methane is also known as burning. During the combustion of methane gas the fuel reacts with the oxygen in the air, and it transfers heat and light into the surroundings.
Open the collar of the Bunsen burner and we can see that the flame turns blue, and it starts roaring.
The reason why is because we’re letting more oxygen into the Bunsen burner. This gives complete combustion, and it produces carbon dioxide gas, and maximum heat energy and light is transferred to the surrounding.
When you close the collar of the Bunsen burner, you can see that the flame turns from blue to yellow. And the reason why is because this is incomplete combustion. Now this means that there is an insufficient amount of oxygen being supplied to the methane gas, so the flame burns yellow.
Useful links
Revision books
AQA GCSE Biology
Get complete coverage of AQA GCSE Biology in one book. You will revise everything you need to know to do well in your exams, from cell biology to evolution.
AQA GCSE Chemistry
Revise and practice for your AQA GCSE Chemistry exams. This revision guide will build your confidence and understanding of all the reactions, calculations and more that you need to know to do well.
AQA GCSE Physics
Prepare for AQA GCSE Physics with confidence. This revision guide covers everything you need to know to do well in your exams, including waves, magnets, space and more.