Page 69 - Big Ideas Year 10 sciPAD 2025

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SCIPAD - BIG IDEAS - BOOK 2
FUELS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Smear of product found on the bottom of the beaker
A P P R O X I M A T E V O L U M E S
Incomplete Combustion
When fuels burn without a plentiful supply of oxygen, it is described as incomplete combustion.
Incomplete combustion produces carbon monoxide (CO) which is a poisonous gas, carbon (C)
in the form of soot, and water. Note that mono- means one, as opposed to di- which means two.
Investigating the Products of Incomplete Combustion
Aim: To observe the products of incomplete combustion.
Equipment: Bunsen burner, tripod, gauze, beaker, water, ice cubes.
Method: 1. Set up the tripod, gauze and beaker.
2. Half fill the beaker with water and add the ice cubes.
3. Close the air-hole of the Bunsen, so that it will burn with
a yellow flame.
4. Light the Bunsen, and place it under the beaker for 30
seconds.
5. Look closely at the outer surface of the beaker and
record your observations.
6. Look closely at the bottom of the beaker and
record your observations.
7. Allow the beaker to cool and then wipe your
finger across the bottom of the beaker. Smear
your finger in the box provided below.
Observations: Appearance of the outside of the beaker: 


Appearance of the bottom of the beaker: 


Explanation of observations: Explain the source for the products observed on the:
Sides of the beaker.

Bottom of the beaker.

Why is the flame yellow?
When a fuel is burned in a limited supply of oxygen, the hydrogen atoms will combine chemically with the oxygen
atoms first. Some carbon atoms will not be able to react with oxygen atoms, and will be released as gaseous carbon.
Hot carbon atoms glow with a yellow light. This is what makes flames from a fire their familiar colour. Once they cool,
the carbon atoms will settle on surfaces as a black layer of soot.
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