The violent reaction that releases a great amount of heat and energy is known as which process?

• A. Combustion
• B. Oxidation
• C. Polymerization
• D. Explosion

Answer: (C)

That is an explosion. An explosion is a violent, rapid chemical reaction that releases a large amount of heat and energy in a very short time, causing a sudden rise in pressure as hot gases form and expand quickly, often with a shock wave. Combustion is burning that uses oxygen and releases heat and light, but it doesn’t have to be violent or confined to cause a pressure-driven blast. Oxidation is the broader process of a substance reacting with oxygen and isn’t necessarily rapid or explosive. Polymerization is the joining of small molecules into a polymer and isn’t defined by a large, sudden energy release. So the best fit for a violent, high-energy release is an explosion.