Fuel

Name:
Fuel
Detailed information:
Any substance that evolves energy in a controlled chemical or nuclear reaction. The most common type of chemical reaction is combustion, the type of oxidation occurring with petroleum products, natural gas, coal, and wood; more-rapid oxidation takes place in rocket fuels (hydrogen, hydrogen peroxide, hydrazine) and approaches the rate of an explosion. The nuclear fuels used for power generation release their energy by fission of the atomic nucleus (uranium, plutonium, thorium).See Combustion; Fission.