What chemical change is associated with the process of combustion?

The process of combustion involves the chemical reaction of a substance, typically a fuel, with an oxidizer, such as oxygen, resulting in the production of heat and light. During combustion, the chemical bonds in the fuel are broken, and new bonds are formed as the products of the reaction—commonly carbon dioxide and water—are created. This transformation signifies a chemical change, as the original substances undergo a significant alteration in their chemical structure.

Burning of a substance exemplifies this definition, as it entails a complete change in the chemical composition of the material being burned, resulting in entirely new substances with different properties than the original. Other changes, like breaking down of sugar, mixing sand and water, or evaporating water, do not fit the criteria for chemical change associated with combustion, as they either result in physical changes or different types of chemical reactions that do not involve the rapid oxidation characteristic of combustion.