Complete combustion of fuel primarily produces which of the following?

Complete combustion of fuel primarily produces water vapor along with carbon dioxide when a hydrocarbon fuel combusts in the presence of sufficient oxygen. In a complete combustion process, the oxygen mixes thoroughly with the hydrocarbon fuel, breaking it down into predictable end products.

The primary goal during this process is to ensure that all of the carbon in the fuel is fully oxidized, resulting in carbon dioxide and water as the main byproducts. Water vapor is generated when hydrogen present in the fuel reacts with oxygen, forming H2O.

While other options listed may indeed be produced under different conditions—like carbon monoxide during incomplete combustion when there’s insufficient oxygen, or aldehydes from certain types of incomplete reactions—these are not the products of complete combustion. Therefore, in the context of a complete combustion scenario, water vapor stands out as the primary substance produced alongside carbon dioxide when fuel is combusted correctly. Understanding this process is crucial for safe and efficient operations of gas-fueled equipment in a commercial food service environment.