what is a combustion reaction
Combustion Reactions. A combustion reaction is when a substance reacts with oxygen and releases a huge amount of energy in the form of light and heat. A combustion reaction always has oxygen as one reactant. The second reactant is always a hydrocarbon, which is a compound made up of carbon and hydrogen. combustion reaction always includes a hydrocarbon and oxygen as the reactants and always produces carbon dioxide and water as products. Balancing combustion reactions is similar to balancing other types of reactions. First, balance the carbon and hydrogen atoms on both sides of the equation.