The most common combustion reactions usually contain flames and smoke. This is the case when burning wood, for example. This kind of combustion is known as normal combustion.

Slow combustion reactions are also possible. For example, the sugar you consume in your food is burned slowly to produce energy in your muscles. When iron grows rusty, we are also looking at slow combustion. Slow combustion reactions are also used in hand warmers.


Image on the left: Normal combustion reactions usually include flames and smoke. Image on the right: The function of a portable hand warmer is based on a slow combustion reaction.

The third kind of combustion is rapid combustion. In rapid combustion, oxygen and other substances react very quickly. Rapid combustion can be seen in the quick flash produced when lighting a match. Sparklers and gunpowder also burn rapidly. 

If a rapid combustion reaction takes place inside a closed container, the result is an explosion. Explosions are used in fireworks, for example. 

Matches and fireworks are examples of rapid combustion reactions.