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Ch.5 - Thermochemistry
Chapter 5, Problem 48b

Consider the decomposition of liquid benzene, C6H6(l), to gaseous acetylene, C2H2(g): C6H6(l) → 3 C2H2(g) ΔH = +630 kJ (b) What is H for the formation of 1 mol of acetylene?

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Thermochemistry

Thermochemistry is the study of the heat energy associated with chemical reactions and physical transformations. It involves understanding how energy is absorbed or released during these processes, which is crucial for calculating enthalpy changes (ΔH). In the given reaction, the positive ΔH indicates that the decomposition of benzene is endothermic, meaning it requires energy input.
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Enthalpy of Formation

The enthalpy of formation (ΔH_f) is the change in enthalpy when one mole of a compound is formed from its elements in their standard states. This concept is essential for determining the energy changes associated with the formation of products from reactants. In this case, calculating the enthalpy for the formation of acetylene involves using the enthalpy change of the decomposition reaction and stoichiometric relationships.
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Stoichiometry

Stoichiometry is the quantitative relationship between reactants and products in a chemical reaction. It allows chemists to calculate the amounts of substances consumed and produced in a reaction based on balanced chemical equations. For the decomposition of benzene to acetylene, stoichiometry helps determine how the enthalpy change relates to the formation of one mole of acetylene from the given reaction.
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