Yesterday was my periodic school test in science, and one of the questions asked:

“What type of reaction occurs when fuel or gas burns?”

I wrote "combustion reaction" as my answer, but the teacher marked it wrong and said the correct answer is "oxidation reaction."

According to NCERT Class 10 Science, the main types of chemical reactions listed are:

• Combination

• Decomposition

• Displacement

• Double Displacement

• Oxidation

• Reduction (and Redox)

While combustion isn't listed under the core classification, NCERT Chapter 6 (on combustion and flame) clearly defines combustion as a reaction where a substance combines with oxygen to release heat and light — i.e., exactly what happens when fuel burns.

So while combustion is a type of oxidation, it’s also a more specific and contextually accurate term for the reaction described.

Is it reasonable for me to request rechecking and marks for this? My answer seems chemically correct, just more specific.

51 minutes ago, Dhillon1724X said:

Yesterday was my periodic school test in science, and one of the questions asked:

“What type of reaction occurs when fuel or gas burns?”

I wrote "combustion reaction" as my answer, but the teacher marked it wrong and said the correct answer is "oxidation reaction."

According to NCERT Class 10 Science, the main types of chemical reactions listed are:

• Combination

• Decomposition

• Displacement

• Double Displacement

• Oxidation

• Reduction (and Redox)

While combustion isn't listed under the core classification, NCERT Chapter 6 (on combustion and flame) clearly defines combustion as a reaction where a substance combines with oxygen to release heat and light — i.e., exactly what happens when fuel burns.

So while combustion is a type of oxidation, it’s also a more specific and contextually accurate term for the reaction described.

Is it reasonable for me to request rechecking and marks for this? My answer seems chemically correct, just more specific.

No, your teacher is right. What the question was getting at is the kind of chemical process involved, which is oxidation. Combustion is merely, as you say, a description of one particularly violent kind of oxidation reaction that involves oxygen gas and produces both heat and light.

If you answer “combustion”, which after all is just a fancy way of saying “burning”, you are just stating the obvious, without demonstrating that you understand the chemistry involved, viz. that it is in fact an oxidation reaction.

Edited July 23Jul 23 by exchemist

2 minutes ago, exchemist said:

No, your teacher is right. What the question was getting at is the kind of chemical process involved, which is oxidation. Combustion is merely, as you say, a description of one particularly violent kind of oxidation reaction that involves oxygen gas and produces both heat and light.

If you answer “combustion”, which after all is just a fancy way of saying “burning”, you are just stating the obvious, without demonstrating that you understand the chemistry involved, viz. that it is in fact an oxidation reaction.

But then question must have specified it.
if you say then i accept that the Teacher is right as you are a chemist and well experienced.

Thanks for explaining and guiding.
I am not that familiar with chemistry but i look forward to learn.

5 minutes ago, Dhillon1724X said:

But then question must have specified it.
if you say then i accept that the Teacher is right as you are a chemist and well experienced.

Thanks for explaining and guiding.
I am not that familiar with chemistry but i look forward to learn.

A good principle to bear in mind in exams and tests is to use them to show your understanding of the subject. If you stop and think for a minute, any fool could answer “combustion”, but only someone who understands chemistry could answer “oxidation”.

1 minute ago, exchemist said:

A good principle to bear in mind in exams and tests is to use them to show your understanding of the subject. If you stop and think for a minute, any fool could answer “combustion”, but only someone who understands chemistry could answer “oxidation”

I will remember it.
I wrote combustion reaction as i thought i have to write specific reaction.I forgot it wasnt in chapter as i started learning some concepts of Quantum Chemistry,Chemical Equations.

Just now, Dhillon1724X said:

Yesterday was my periodic school test in science, and one of the questions asked:

“What type of reaction occurs when fuel or gas burns?”

I wrote "combustion reaction" as my answer, but the teacher marked it wrong and said the correct answer is "oxidation reaction."

According to NCERT Class 10 Science, the main types of chemical reactions listed are:

• Combination

• Decomposition

• Displacement

• Double Displacement

• Oxidation

• Reduction (and Redox)

While combustion isn't listed under the core classification, NCERT Chapter 6 (on combustion and flame) clearly defines combustion as a reaction where a substance combines with oxygen to release heat and light — i.e., exactly what happens when fuel burns.

So while combustion is a type of oxidation, it’s also a more specific and contextually accurate term for the reaction described.

Is it reasonable for me to request rechecking and marks for this? My answer seems chemically correct, just more specific.

No you got that one wrong.

It would be reasonable to request a discussion to help you clarify.

Since you like arguing with your teachers I hesitate to say this but they are one of the most useful factors in your education.

This is because they provide something that cannot properly be provided any other way.

Good teachers provide marked work. That is they go through the reasons why and why not.

Further you say that this was an internal test.

Again a good sign lost in the West with too much management of 'education'.

The point is that you learn more from your mistakes than getting something right.

So doing things, getting it wrong and finding out why is part of learning.

But you need to get them wrong with no penalty, hence the internal test.

But you have also told us that you are not interested in Science in the long run or in academic progress.

Setting this aside, a quick run through of the issue.

1. Reactions can be classified in many different ways, depending upon the point of interest.
   Sometimes several different categorisations apply as with combustion and oxidation.
   

2. Howevver not all combustions involve combination with oxygen.
   

3. Also not all oxidations involve oxygen at at.
   Combination with oxygen is the most elementary definition and a starting point.
   What definition do you have ?

I fully expect the test was to see if you know and understand the 'core lisr' you posted.

So I am glad to see that you were actually thinking about it.

A good trick to master for exams and tests is to be able to pick out the answer the examiner is looking for if there is more than one possible.

1 minute ago, studiot said:

Since you like arguing with your teachers I hesitate to say this but they are one of the most useful factors in your education.

Actually i avoid arguing as i respect them,thats why i asked so i dont need to argue.
My classmates write whats written in Textbook,i thought teacher checked in hurry so maybe she just matched the one word answers with theirs.

3 minutes ago, studiot said:

No you got that one wrong.

It would be reasonable to request a discussion to help you clarify.

Since you like arguing with your teachers I hesitate to say this but they are one of the most useful factors in your education.

This is because they provide something that cannot properly be provided any other way.

Good teachers provide marked work. That is they go through the reasons why and why not.

Further you say that this was an internal test.

Again a good sign lost in the West with too much management of 'education'.

The point is that you learn more from your mistakes than getting something right.

So doing things, getting it wrong and finding out why is part of learning.

But you need to get them wrong with no penalty, hence the internal test.

But you have also told us that you are not interested in Science in the long run or in academic progress.

Setting this aside, a quick run through of the issue.

1. Reactions can be classified in many different ways, depending upon the point of interest.
   Sometimes several different categorisations apply as with combustion and oxidation.
   

2. Howevver not all combustions involve combination with oxygen.
   

3. Also not all oxidations involve oxygen at at.
   Combination with oxygen is the most elementary definition and a starting point.
   What definition do you have ?

I fully expect the test was to see if you know and understand the 'core lisr' you posted.

So I am glad to see that you were actually thinking about it.

A good trick to master for exams and tests is to be able to pick out the answer the examiner is looking for if there is more than one possible.

Thanks for guiding me.

7 minutes ago, studiot said:

But you have also told us that you are not interested in Science in the long run or in academic progress.

Maybe i will continue it in long run,but not in academic way.

8 minutes ago, studiot said:

Setting this aside, a quick run through of the issue.

1. Reactions can be classified in many different ways, depending upon the point of interest.
   Sometimes several different categorisations apply as with combustion and oxidation.
   

2. Howevver not all combustions involve combination with oxygen.
   

3. Also not all oxidations involve oxygen at at.
   Combination with oxygen is the most elementary definition and a starting point.
   What definition do you have ?

Thanks for clarifying.
Now i understand

9 minutes ago, studiot said:

I fully expect the test was to see if you know and understand the 'core lisr' you posted.

In India,
Marks are everything.
Higher the marks,more intelligent you are.
They dont see intellect of students as per understanding its about marks.However,my Science teacher favors understanding but still if marks get lower then according to them "you are not studying anymore".

I dont know if its same in your country.

I dont know why but during test i mess up things i know.
I knew i had to balance equations,but i didnt and due to some reasons a part of test was still remaining and teacher took it today,There was no pressure so it all went right.

foolishly i also gave answers like we discuss here assuming that the teacher knows everything,but teacher deducted marks saying you have to explain fully(I agree with her).