Question

Ethanol, C2H6O, is most often blended with gasoline - usually as a 10 percent mix - to create a fuel called gasohol. Ethanol is a renewable resource and ethanol-blended fuels, like gasohol, appear to burn more efficiently in combustion engines. The heat of combustion of ethanol is 326.7 kcal/mol. The heat of combustion of octane, C8H18, is 1.308×103 kcal/mol. How much energy is released during the complete combustion of 463 grams of octane ? kcal Assuming the same efficiency, would 463 grams of ethanol provide more, less, or the same amount of energy as 463 grams of octane? Submit Answer

Answer 1

Answer:

This means 463 grams of ethanol would provide less amount of energy

Explanation:

Step 1: Data given

Heat of combustion of ethanol = 326.7 kcal/mol

The heat of combustion of octane =  1.308*10³ kcal/mol

Mass of octane = 463 grams

Molar mass octane = 114.23 g/mol

Molar mass ethanol = 46.07 g/mol

Step 2: Calculate moles octane

Moles octane = mass octane / molar mass octane

Moles octane = 463 grams / 114.23 g/mol

Moles octane = 4.05 moles

Step 3: Calculate energy of combustion of 4.05 moles octane

Combustion of 1 mol octane gives us: 1.308 * 10³ kcal/mol

Combustion of 4.05 moles octane gives us 4.05 * 1.308 * 10³ kcal/mol = 5.30 * 10³ kcal

This means the combustion reaction of 463 grams of octane gives us 5.30 * 10³ kcal

Step 4:

Heat of combustion of ethanol = 326.7 kcal/mol

OR in words: combustion of 1 mol ethanol gives us 326.7 kcal energy

Moles ethanol = 463 grams / 46.07 g/mol

Moles ethanol = 10.05 moles

Since combustion of 1 mol ethanol gives us 326.7 kcal

10.05 moles ethanol will give us = 10.05 * 326.7 = 3283.3 kcal = 3.28 * 10³ kcal

5.30 * 10³ kcal > 3.28 * 10³ kcal

This means 463 grams of ethanol would provide less amount of energy