| combustion | <chemistry> The heat-producing reaction of a material with oxygen gas or other oxidant, often producing a flame. (09 Oct 1997) |
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| combustion air | The air fed to a fire to provide oxygen for combustion of fuel. It may be preheated before injection into a furnace. (05 Dec 1998) |
| combustion analysis | <technique> A method for determining the chemical composition of a compound by burning the compound under controlled conditions. Often used to determine the relative amounts of carbon and hydrogen in a compound. (09 Oct 1997) |
| combustion efficiency | Actual heat produced by combustion divided by the total heat potential of the fuel consumed (17 Dec 1998) |
| combustion equivalent | The heat value of a gram of carbohydrate or fat oxidised outside the body. (05 Mar 2000) |
| combustion gases | The gases released from a combustion process. (05 Dec 1998) |
| combustion reaction | <chemistry> The vigorous and exothermic reaction that takes place between certain substances, particularly organic compounds, and oxygen. (09 Jan 1998) |
| water of combustion | The water formed in the body by oxidation of the hydrogen of the food, the greatest amount being produced in the metabolism of fat (about 117 g/100 g of fat). Synonym: water of combustion. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| heat of combustion | The quantity of heat liberated per gram-molecular weight when a substance undergoes complete oxidation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| slow combustion | See: decay. Spontaneous combustion, the ignition of a mass of material by heat developed within it by the oxidation of the substances composing it without external ignition. (05 Mar 2000) |
| spontaneous combustion | A circumstance where a substance or organism takes fire and burns without an exogenous source. Spontaneous human combustion differs from preternatural human combustibility in that in the latter, some spark or trivial flame sets the fire and the body tissues, which have a greatly enhanced inflammability, continue to undergo incineration without any external heat source or combustible materials. (bergman na. Spontaneous human combustion: its role in literature and science. Pharos 1988;fall;51(4):18-21) (12 Dec 1998) |