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Why do aromatic compounds give off a smoky flame?

1 Answer

May 28, 2016

Why do aromatics give off a sooty flame? Incomplete combustion!

Explanation:

We can use benzene as an example.

Its complete combustion is,

$C_{6} H_{6} + \frac{15}{2} O_{2} \to 6 C O_{2} + 3 H_{2} O$ $C_6H_6 + 15/2O_2 rarr 6CO_2 + 3H_2O$

Nevertheless, because the molecule is stable and carbon dense, it might combust incompletely to give $C O$ $CO$ and $C$ $C$ , i.e. soot.

$C_{6} H_{6} (l) + 6 O_{2} (g) \to 4 C O_{2} (g) + C O (g) + C (s) + 3 H_{2} O (g)$ $C_6H_6(l) + 6O_2(g) rarr 4CO_2(g) +CO(g) +C(s) + 3H_2O(g)$

How do I know that only 1 equiv of $C O$ $CO$ and $C$ $C$ were produced? Of course, I don't know that. I do know that my equation should be balanced.

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