Question

Methanol, ethanol, and n−propanol are three common alcohols. When 1.00 g of each of these alcohols is burned in air, heat is liberated as indicated. Calculate the heats of combustion of these alcohols in kJ/mol.

Answer 1

Answer:

For methanol: Heat of combustion = -22.6 kJ / 0.0312 moles = -724.3590 kJ/mol (negative sign signifies release of heat)

For ethanol: Heat of combustion = -29.7 kJ / 0.0217 moles = -1368.6636 kJ/mol (negative sign signifies release of heat)

For propanol: Heat of combustion = -33.4 kJ / 0.0166 moles = -2012.0482 kJ/mol (negative sign signifies release of heat)

Explanation:

Given:

Mass of Methanol = 1.0 g

Mass of ethanol = 1.00 g

Mass of n-propanol = 1.00 g

For methanol:

2 CH₃OH + 3 O₂ ----> 2 CO₂ + 4 H₂O, ∆H₀ = -22.6 kJ/g  (negative sign signifies release of heat)

1 g of methanol on combustion gives 22.6 kJ of energy

Calculation of moles of methanol:

$moles=\frac{Mass(m)}{Molar\ mass (M)}$

Molar mass of methanol = 32.04 g/mol

Thus moles of methanol = 1 g/ (32.04 g/mol) = 0.0312 moles

Hence energy in kJ/mol:

Heat of combustion = -22.6 kJ / 0.0312 moles = -724.3590 kJ/mol (negative sign signifies release of heat)

For ethanol:

C₂H₅OH + 3 O₂ ----> 2 CO₂ + 3 H₂O, ∆H₀ = -29.7 kJ/g  (negative sign signifies release of heat)

1 g of ethanol on combustion gives 29.7 kJ of energy

Calculation of moles of ethanol:

$moles=\frac{Mass(m)}{Molar\ mass (M)}$

Molar mass of ethanol = 46.07 g/mol

Thus moles of ethanol = 1 g/ (46.07 g/mol) = 0.0217 moles

Hence energy in kJ/mol:

Heat of combustion = -29.7 kJ / 0.0217 moles = -1368.6636 kJ/mol (negative sign signifies release of heat)

For propanol:

2 C₃H₇OH + 9 O₂ ----> 6 CO₂ + 8 H₂O, ∆H₀ = -33.4 kJ/g , (negative sign signifies release of heat)

1 g of methanol on combustion gives 33.4 kJ of energy

Calculation of moles of methanol:

$moles=\frac{Mass(m)}{Molar\ mass (M)}$

Molar mass of methanol = 60.09 g/mol

Thus moles of methanol = 1 g/ (60.09 g/mol) = 0.0166 moles

Hence energy in kJ/mol:

Heat of combustion = -33.4 kJ / 0.0166 moles = -2012.0482 kJ/mol (negative sign signifies release of heat)