What is the chemical union of oxygen with the hydrogen and carbon in fuel-oil?

The process described in the question pertains to the reaction that occurs when fuel oil is burned, which involves a chemical union of oxygen with hydrogen and carbon. This occurs during combustion, where the fuel oil reacts with oxygen in the air, producing heat and light.

During combustion, the carbon in the fuel oil combines with oxygen to form carbon dioxide, and the hydrogen combines with oxygen to produce water vapor. This transformation releases energy, which is the core purpose of burning fuels like oil. The chemical reaction involved in combustion is essential for the functioning of oil burners and is a key concept for low PSI oil burner operators to understand.

The other processes listed, such as oxidation, evaporation, and condensation, do not accurately represent the complete reaction of fuel oil burning. While combustion itself can be viewed as a type of oxidation (where a substance reacts with oxygen), the term "oxidation" does not fully encapsulate the broader scope of energy release and byproduct formation involved in burning fuel. Evaporation and condensation refer to phase changes of liquids and gases rather than chemical reactions, further distinguishing them from combustion.