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Ch.5 - Thermochemistry
Chapter 5, Problem 78a

Diethyl ether, C4H10O(l), a flammable compound that was once used as a surgical anesthetic, has the structure The complete combustion of 1 mol of C4H10O(l) to CO2(g) and H2O(l) yields ΔH° = -2723.7 kJ. (a) Write a balanced equation for the combustion of 1 mol of C4H10O(l).

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Key Concepts

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

Combustion Reaction

A combustion reaction is a chemical process in which a substance reacts rapidly with oxygen, producing heat and light. In organic compounds, this typically results in the formation of carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O). Understanding the general form of combustion reactions is essential for writing balanced equations, as it helps identify the reactants and products involved.
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Balancing Chemical Equations

Balancing chemical equations involves ensuring that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation. This is crucial for obeying the law of conservation of mass, which states that matter cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction. Techniques such as adjusting coefficients in front of compounds are used to achieve balance.
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Enthalpy Change (ΔH°)

Enthalpy change (ΔH°) refers to the heat content change during a chemical reaction at standard conditions. A negative ΔH° indicates that the reaction is exothermic, meaning it releases heat. In the context of combustion, knowing the enthalpy change helps understand the energy released when a compound like diethyl ether is completely combusted, which is important for energy calculations and thermodynamic studies.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

Complete combustion of 1 mol of acetone (C3H6O) liberates 1790 kJ: C3H6O(l) + 4 O2(g) → 3 CO2(g) + 3 H2O(l) ΔH° = -1790 kJ Using this information together with the standard enthalpies of formation of O2(g), CO2(g), and H2O(l) from Appendix C, calculate the standard enthalpy of formation of acetone.

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Textbook Question

Calcium carbide (CaC2) reacts with water to form acetylene (C2H2) and Ca(OH)2. From the following enthalpy of reaction data and data in Appendix C, calculate H°f for CaC2(s): CaC2(s) + 2 H2O(l) → Ca(OH2)(s) + C2H2(g) ΔH° = -127.2 kJ

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Textbook Question

Gasoline is composed primarily of hydrocarbons, including many with eight carbon atoms, called octanes. One of the cleanest–burning octanes is a compound called 2,3,4- trimethylpentane, which has the following structural formula: The complete combustion of one mole of this compound to CO2(g) and H2O(g) leads to ΔH° = -5064.9 kJ. (b) By using the information in this problem and data in Table 5.3, calculate H°f for 2,3,4-trimethylpentane.

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Textbook Question

Ethanol (C2H5OH) is blended with gasoline as an automobile fuel. (c) Calculate the heat produced per liter of ethanol by combustion of ethanol under constant pressure. Ethanol has a density of 0.789 g/mL.

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Textbook Question

Ethanol (C2H5OH) is blended with gasoline as an automobile fuel. (d) Calculate the mass of CO2 produced per kJ of heat emitted.

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Textbook Question

Methanol (CH3OH) is used as a fuel in race cars. (b) Calculate the standard enthalpy change for the reaction, assuming H2O(g) as a product.

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