Here's a simplified explanation:

* Hydrocarbons are molecules composed of only carbon (C) and hydrogen (H) atoms.

* Combustion is a chemical reaction that involves rapid reaction between a substance with an oxidant, usually oxygen (O2), to produce heat and light.

* In the presence of sufficient oxygen, the carbon and hydrogen atoms in a hydrocarbon react with oxygen to form carbon dioxide and water.

Here's a general equation representing the combustion of a hydrocarbon:

CxHy + (x + y/4)O2 → xCO2 + (y/2)H2O

Where:

* CxHy represents the hydrocarbon molecule

* x and y represent the number of carbon and hydrogen atoms, respectively.

Important Note: This is a simplified representation. In reality, incomplete combustion can also occur, leading to the formation of other products such as carbon monoxide (CO) and soot (unburned carbon particles).