MedVision ad

Heat of Combustion of Ethanol (1 Viewer)

mazza_728

Manda xoxo
Joined
Jun 2, 2003
Messages
755
Location
Sydney - Sutherland Shire
Gender
Female
HSC
2004
Hey guys,
im having a lil trouble with this stuff and my teacher doesnt help because he's never taught the chemistry course and i really doubt if he knows anything!
Can someone please explain how you answer this question:
The heat of combustion of ethanol is 1360KJ/mol. What mass of ethanol needs to be burnt to raise the temperature of 350g water through 77 degrees if 50% of the heat released by the ethanol is lost to the surroundings? the specific heat capacity of wate is 4.2J/K/g.
And if someone is really bored and they have the conquering chemistry textbook could u answer 30-34 otherwise hopefully ill understand it after this question. thanksxoxo
 

Frigid

LLB (Hons)
Joined
Nov 17, 2002
Messages
6,208
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
N/A
the heat of combustion is given by the equation:

delta-H = m x C x delta-T

where delta-H is the energy in joules;
m is the mass in grams;
C is the specific heat of the substance (water is 4.2 J/K/g);
delta-T is the temperature change.

now, taking the heat of combustion value of 1360kJ/mol and multiplying that value by 50%:

1360 x 50% = 680 kJ/mol = 680000 J/mol

We substitute m=350, C=4.2, delta-T=77 into our original equation:

delta-H = 350 x 4.2 x 77 = 113190 J for 'x' grams of ethanol.

the molar mass of ethanol is 46 (12 x 2 + 1 x 6 + 12 x 1).

by similar ratios, the energy per 'x' grams of ethanol is equal to the energy per mole of ethanol.
113190 / 'x' = 680000 / 46

therefore, solving for x,
x = 7.66 (3 sig fig)

the mass of ethanol that needs to be burnt is about 7.66 grams.

and dun be a lazy ass, DO THE REST YOURSELF! :p
 
Last edited:

abdooooo!!!

Banned
Joined
Mar 17, 2003
Messages
1,655
Location
Australia, Auburn Gender: Male
i believe the answer should be negative... i heard they hammer you for it if you have a positive answer for heat of combustion even though it suppose to be minus enthalpy of change... and if you don't write the special symbol for heat of combustion another mark gone

just joking :)

but it just might be true... read the marking guidelines and the answers on that 2001-2002 past paper book...
 

The Bograt

boredofuni
Joined
Nov 23, 2003
Messages
286
Location
Caringbah, Sydney
Gender
Male
HSC
2004
In the combustion of ethanol your answer should always be negative, this shows that the reaction was exothermic.
 

crazylilmonkee

Active Member
Joined
Aug 21, 2003
Messages
1,121
Gender
Female
HSC
2003
omg im so glad this wasnt in the exam!! or was it.. i never got taught it.. had to use damn excel, shitty book!!!
 

Ragerunner

Your friendly HSC guide
Joined
Apr 12, 2003
Messages
5,472
Location
UNSW
Gender
Male
HSC
2003
Wasn't there one with burning ethanol in air and how much CO2 released?

I couldn't get that one :(

gayyyyyyyyy stupid maths questions.
 

crazylilmonkee

Active Member
Joined
Aug 21, 2003
Messages
1,121
Gender
Female
HSC
2003
oh shit there was too!!
i had like 72 L or something
hahaha that was so messed up
 

Frigid

LLB (Hons)
Joined
Nov 17, 2002
Messages
6,208
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
N/A
Originally posted by The Bograt
In the combustion of ethanol your answer should always be negative, this shows that the reaction was exothermic.
Bullshit! the enthalpy of an exothermic reaction should be negative, but the heat of combustion of ethanol is a positive value! :)
 

iambored

dum-di-dum
Joined
Apr 27, 2003
Messages
10,862
Location
here
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
2003
delta is the triangle thing /_\

for an exothermic reaction:

delta T = negative

delta H = positive


delta T corresponds to the substance itself. as the substance is giving out heat, it is negative, as the SUBSTANCE IN ITSELF is LOSING HEAT

delta H corresponds to the heat being given out (as opposed to the substance giving out the heat). therefore, as heat is being given out, it is a positive value
 

spice girl

magic mirror
Joined
Aug 10, 2002
Messages
785
just to clear up, 'enthalpy' is heat lost or gained in a process kept at constant pressure (which is the case in nearly all of class lab experiments). So in HSC levels, 'enthalpy' and 'heat' may be used in the same way.

some things are not constant pressure. for example, igniting petrol in a closed container.
 

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Users: 0, Guests: 1)

Top