Combustion and Flame Class 8 important questions with answers PDF download
FAQs on CBSE Important Questions for Class 8 Science Combustion and Flame - 2025-26
1. What types of important questions should I focus on from Chapter 4, Combustion and Flame, for the CBSE Class 8 Science exam 2025-26?
For the 2025-26 exams, you should prepare for a variety of question formats from this chapter. Expect questions such as:
Very Short Answer (VSA): Based on definitions like ignition temperature or calorific value.
Short Answer (SA): Explaining concepts like the conditions necessary for combustion.
Long Answer (LA): Requiring detailed explanations with diagrams, such as the structure of a candle flame.
HOTS (Higher Order Thinking Skills): Application-based questions that test your conceptual understanding.
Case-Study Questions: Scenarios related to fire safety or environmental pollution from fuels.
2. What are some important 3-mark questions related to the 'conditions necessary for combustion'?
Important 3-mark questions often test your understanding of the fire triangle. Be prepared to answer questions like:
Explain why a blanket wrapped around a person whose clothes have caught fire helps in extinguishing it. (Tests the 'supply of oxygen' concept).
Describe an experiment to prove that a combustible substance, oxygen, and ignition temperature are essential for burning.
Give reasons why a matchstick does not catch fire on its own at room temperature but does so when struck against a rough surface.
3. How can I score full marks on a question about the structure of a candle flame?
To score full marks, a well-labelled diagram is crucial. Your answer must clearly describe the three main zones:
Outermost Zone: Blue in colour, it is the hottest part due to complete combustion. Mention that goldsmiths use this zone.
Middle Zone: Yellow and luminous, this is where partial combustion occurs. It is moderately hot.
Innermost Zone: Black in colour, it contains unburnt wax vapours and is the least hot part of the flame.
4. Why is water not a suitable extinguisher for all types of fires? This is an important application-based concept.
This is a critical concept for exam questions. Water is not always suitable for two main reasons:
Electrical Fires: Since tap water is a good conductor of electricity, using it on an electrical fire can cause electrocution and spread the fire.
Oil Fires: Water is denser than oil. When poured on an oil fire, the water sinks below the oil, and the oil continues to burn on top, potentially spreading the fire as the water flows.
For such fires, a carbon dioxide or foam extinguisher is a more effective and safe choice.
5. What is the fundamental difference between 'rapid combustion' and 'spontaneous combustion', and why is it an important distinction for exams?
The fundamental difference lies in the trigger. Rapid combustion requires an external agent to initiate it, like lighting an LPG stove with a spark. In contrast, spontaneous combustion occurs without any apparent external cause, such as the self-ignition of white phosphorus at room temperature. This distinction is important because exam questions may ask you to classify examples or explain why forest fires can sometimes start on their own due to the heat of the sun (an example of spontaneous combustion).
6. What kind of Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) questions are important from the 'Combustion and Flame' chapter?
HOTS questions from this chapter move beyond simple definitions. Expect questions that require you to apply concepts. For example:
A paper cup filled with water does not burn when heated. Why?
Can the process of rusting be called slow combustion? Justify your answer.
Why is it advised to not sleep in a closed room with a burning coal fire?
These questions test your deeper understanding of ignition temperature, the definition of combustion, and the products of incomplete combustion.
7. A goldsmith uses the outermost zone of a flame to melt gold. What is the scientific reason, and how could this be asked as a 5-mark question?
The scientific reason is that the outermost zone of a flame undergoes complete combustion, making it the hottest part of the flame. This high temperature is sufficient to melt gold and silver. A 5-mark question could be structured as:
(a) Why does a goldsmith use the outermost zone of a flame? (2 marks)
(b) Draw a neat, labelled diagram of a candle flame showing all its zones. (3 marks)
8. What are some important definitions and units I must know from this chapter for 1-mark questions?
For short, 1-mark questions, you must be very clear with the following definitions and their units:
Combustible Substances: Substances that undergo combustion.
Ignition Temperature: The lowest temperature at which a substance catches fire.
Calorific Value: The amount of heat energy produced on complete combustion of 1 kg of a fuel. Its unit is kilojoules per kilogram (kJ/kg). This unit is very important to mention.
Inflammable Substances: Substances with a very low ignition temperature that easily catch fire.
9. How might a case study on the 'harmful effects of fuels' be presented in the exam?
A case study could present a short paragraph about rising air pollution in a city. Based on this, you may be asked important questions like:
Which pollutants from burning fuels like coal and diesel lead to acid rain?
Explain how the incomplete combustion of fuel leads to the formation of a poisonous gas. Name the gas (Carbon Monoxide).
What is global warming, and how is it linked to the increased consumption of fuels?
Suggest a cleaner fuel alternative like CNG and justify your choice.











