Question

Pentaborane-9, B5H9, is a colorless, highly reactive liquid that will burst into flame when exposed to oxygen. The reaction is 2B5H9(l) + 12O2(g) ⟶ 5B2O3(s) + 9H2O(l) Calculate the kilojoules of heat released per gram of the compound reacted with oxygen. The standard enthalpy of formation of B5H9 is 73.2 kJ/mol.

Answer 1

Answer: The amount of energy released per gram of $B_5H_9$ is -71.92 kJ

Explanation:

For the given chemical reaction:

$2B_5H_9(l)+12O_2(g)\rightarrow 5B_2O_3(s)+9H_2O(l)$

The equation used to calculate enthalpy change is of a reaction is:  

$\Delta H^o_{rxn}=\sum [n\times \Delta H^o_f_{(product)}]-\sum [n\times \Delta H^o_f_{(reactant)}]$

The equation for the enthalpy change of the above reaction is:

$\Delta H^o_{rxn}=[(5\times \Delta H^o_f_{(B_2O_3(s))})+(9\times \Delta H^o_f_{(H_2O(l))})]-[(2\times \Delta H^o_f_{(B_5H_9(l))})+(12\times \Delta H^o_f_{(O_2(g))})]$

Taking the standard enthalpy of formation:

$\Delta H^o_f_{(B_2O_3(s))}=-1271.94kJ/mol\\\Delta H^o_f_{(H_2O(l))}=-285.83kJ/mol\\\Delta H^o_f_{(B_5H_9(l))}=73.2kJ/mol\\\Delta H^o_f_{(O_2(g))}=0kJ/mol$

Putting values in above equation, we get:

$\Delta H^o_{rxn}=[(5\times (1271.94))+(9\times (-285.83))]-[(2\times (73.2))+(12\times (0))]\\\\\Delta H^o_{rxn}=-9078.57kJ$

We know that:

Molar mass of pentaborane -9 = 63.12 g/mol

By Stoichiometry of the reaction:

If 2 moles of $B_5H_9$ produces -9078.57 kJ of energy.

Or,

If $(2\times 63.12)g$ of $B_5H_9$ produces -9078.57 kJ of energy

Then, 1 gram of $B_5H_9$ will produce = $\frac{-9078.57kJ}{(2\times 63.12)}\times 1g=-71.92kJ$ of energy.

Hence, the amount of energy released per gram of $B_5H_9$ is -71.92 kJ