Combustion reaction help!!!?

Question

Can someone please thoroughly explain what a combustion reaction is? I understand the other reactions and how to balance them but not combustion. For instance....How would you balance
C(10)H(8)+12O(2) or CH(2)S+6f(2)

Keep in mind the numbers in parantheses are supposed to be on the right bottom side of each element.

PLEASE HELP! I HAVE A FINAL TOMORROW AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND COMBUSTION!

Please and thank you in advance.

Answer 1

when we talk about combustion it is basically burning in presence of air.
and if you want to know about the chemistry of combustion reactions then all the combustion reactions are oxidation reactions and on complete combustion the products are carbon di oxide and water.
Combustion reactions are balanced like all other oxidation reactions so no new rules are there for these reactions.
e.g. C10 H8+12 O2= 10CO2+ 4 H2O
I hope it helps you.

Answer 2

1. Work out the products of combustion. These are usually CO2 and H2O. Put them on the right hand side of the equation.

2. Balance the C atoms (which make CO2).

3. Balance the H atoms (which make H2O).

4. Count up all the O atoms on the right hand side of the equation, and halve it. That is the balancing number for O2 on the left hand side.