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19. Chemical Thermodynamics - Part 2 of 2
19. Chemical Thermodynamics / Entropy Calculations / Problem 2

Decarboxylation reactions are those in which a carboxyl group is removed and releases CO2. The following reaction shows the decarboxylation of malonic acid:

(CH2(COOH)2)(s) → CH3COOH(l) + CO2(g)

Assume that ΔH° and ΔS° do not vary with temperature, determine the minimum temperature at which this reaction will occur spontaneously under standard conditions. 

                                         ΔH° (kJ/mol)          S° (J/mol•K)
(CH2(COOH)2)(s)              –891.1                     149.0
CH3COOH(l)                    –487.0                    159.8
CO2(g)                             –393.5                    213.6

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