Hydrocarbon combustion refers to the chemical reaction where a hydrocarbon reacts with oxygen to create carbon dioxide, water, and heat. Hydrocarbons are molecules consisting of both hydrogen and carbon. They are most famous for being the primary constituent of fossil fuels, namely natural gas, petroleum, and coal. For this reason, fossil fuel resources are often referred to as hydrocarbon resources. Energy is obtained from fossil fuels through combustion (burning) of the fuel. Although impurities exist in fossil fuels, hydrocarbon combustion is the primary process in the burning of fossil fuel.
