The vigorous exothermic reaction that occurs between certain substances, especially organic compounds, with oxygen is called?

• A. Combustion reaction
• B. Addition reaction
• C. Substitution reaction
• D. Ester

Answer: (A)

A rapid, heat-releasing oxidation with oxygen describes combustion. When a fuel such as a hydrocarbon burns in air, it reacts with oxygen to release energy as heat (and often light). Complete combustion yields carbon dioxide and water, while incomplete combustion happens if oxygen is limited and can produce carbon monoxide or soot. The other ideas describe different kinds of organic reactions: addition reactions add atoms across a multiple bond, often without involving oxygen in a fiery way; substitution replaces an atom in a saturated molecule; an ester is a class of compound formed from an alcohol and a carboxylic acid, not a reaction type. So the term that fits the description is combustion.