Which element is most directly linked to the creation of soot during combustion?

The formation of soot during combustion is primarily connected to carbon. When carbon-based fuels burn incompletely due to insufficient oxygen or low temperatures, tiny carbon particles are produced, which we recognize as soot. Soot results from the agglomeration of these carbon particles, which form when there is not enough oxygen present to fully convert the carbon into carbon dioxide. This incomplete combustion can occur in various situations, such as in poorly tuned engines or appliances, leading to higher levels of soot.

Other elements, including hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen, play different roles in combustion. Hydrogen contributes to the energy release in the combustion process and can produce water vapor as a result of its reaction with oxygen. Oxygen is the essential element that reacts with fuel to support combustion but does not contribute to soot formation directly. Nitrogen, found in the air, is largely inert in combustion reactions at normal conditions and does not form soot. Therefore, carbon is the element most closely associated with soot production during the combustion process.