What are the three requirements needed for combustion?

The three fundamental requirements needed for combustion are oxygen, fuel, and heat. The correct answer emphasizes the idea that without these three elements, a combustion reaction cannot occur.

Oxygen is essential because it acts as the oxidizer that combines with the fuel during the combustion process. Fuel provides the necessary substance that will burn, producing energy in the form of heat and light. Heat is required to initiate the combustion process by raising the temperature of the fuel to its ignition point, where it can begin to react with oxygen.

While ignition might seem relevant to this topic, it is not considered a fundamental requirement in the same sense as oxygen, fuel, and heat; instead, ignition is the transitional phase where the combustion process begins. Carbon dioxide, on the other hand, is a product of combustion rather than a requirement, as it forms after fuel combusts and is not needed for the process to occur. Thus, the combination of oxygen, fuel, and heat represents the essential triad necessary for sustained combustion.