What type of chemical reaction produces heat, flames, and toxic smoke when materials react?

The type of chemical reaction that produces heat, flames, and toxic smoke when materials react is a combustion reaction. Combustion involves the rapid reaction of a substance with oxygen, typically resulting in the release of heat and light, which manifests as flames. This process also yields byproducts such as carbon dioxide, water vapor, and potentially toxic smoke, depending on the materials being burned.

An exothermic reaction, which is often confused with combustion, is a broader category that includes any reaction releasing heat, not exclusively combustion. Therefore, while a combustion reaction is a specific type of exothermic reaction, it is the distinct characteristics of combustion that make it the correct answer in this scenario.

An endothermic heat reaction, on the other hand, absorbs heat from its surroundings and does not typically produce flames or heat in the same way combustion does. Finally, oxidation is a specific chemical process that may occur during combustion but does not specifically denote the heat and flames characteristic of a combustion reaction, making it less accurate in describing the scenario presented in the question.