What is combustion defined as?

Combustion is defined as the self-sustaining process of rapid oxidation of a fuel. This definition encompasses the chemical reactions that occur when a fuel reacts with an oxidizer, typically oxygen, leading to the release of energy in the form of heat and light. This process not only involves the fuel and oxidizer but also produces combustion products, such as carbon dioxide and water vapor, as the reaction progresses. For combustion to be sustained, it requires the right combination of fuel, oxygen, and heat, which is often described by the fire triangle.

In the context of fire behavior and safety, understanding combustion is crucial because it directly relates to how fires ignite, sustain, and spread. Recognizing that combustion is a rapid oxidation process helps in understanding fire dynamics, including the temperatures at which different fuels ignite and the behaviors of these fires based on the chemical composition of the materials involved.

Other choices provided do not pertain to the definition of combustion, focusing instead on different chemical or physical processes that do not involve the rapid oxidation of fuel.