| Criteria |
Combustion |
Burning |
| Definition |
A chemical process where a substance reacts with oxygen to release energy, often in the form of heat and light. |
A type of combustion that results in visible flames, heat, and light. |
| Usage |
Mostly used in scientific and technical fields. |
Commonly used in everyday language. |
| Examples |
The process in a car engine, the burning of natural gas in a furnace, cellular respiration in the human body. |
Lighting a match, burning wood in a fireplace, burning a candle. |
| Complete or Incomplete |
Can be either complete (with sufficient oxygen, producing CO2 and water) or incomplete (with insufficient oxygen, producing CO or soot). |
Often refers to visible reactions, which can be either complete or incomplete, but does not typically distinguish between them. |
