Question

Toluene, C7H8, is used in the manufacture of explosives such as TNT (trinitrotoluene). A 1.500 g sample of liquid toluene was placed in a bomb calorimeter along with excess oxygen. When the combustion of the toluene was initiated, the temperature of the calorimeter rose from 25.000 °C to 26.413 °C. The products of the combustion were CO2(g) and H2O(l), and the heat capacity of the calorimeter was 45.06 kJ °C−1 . Write the balanced chemical equation for the reation in the calorimeter.

Answer 1

Answer:

The answer to your question is      C₇H₈  +    9O₂   ⇒   7CO₂  +   4H₂O

Explanation:

Data

Toluene   C₇H₈

mass = 1500 g

Excess Oxygen

Temperature 1 = 25°C

Temperature 2 = 26.413°C

Products CO₂ and H₂O

Heat capacity = 45.06 kJ/°C

Balanced chemical equation

            Toluene  +  Oxygen  ⇒   Carbon dioxide  +  Water

                    C₇H₈  +    O₂   ⇒   CO₂  +   H₂O

                 Reactants       Elements     Products

                        7               Carbon               1

                        8               Hydrogen          2

                        2               Oxygen              3

This reaction is unbalanced

                   C₇H₈  +    9O₂   ⇒   7CO₂  +   4H₂O

                 Reactants       Elements     Products

                        7               Carbon               7

                        8               Hydrogen          8

                       18               Oxygen              18

Now, the reaction is balanced