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Ch.5 - Thermochemistry
Chapter 5, Problem 99

The air bags that provide protection in automobiles in the event of an accident expand because of a rapid chemical reaction. From the viewpoint of the chemical reactants as the system, what do you expect for the signs of q and w in this process?

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Key Concepts

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

Enthalpy (q)

Enthalpy, represented as 'q', refers to the heat content of a system at constant pressure. In the context of the airbag deployment, the rapid chemical reaction generates heat, indicating that the system is releasing energy to the surroundings. Therefore, for the reactants, the sign of q is expected to be negative, as the system loses heat during the exothermic reaction.
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Work (w)

Work, denoted as 'w', is the energy transferred when a force is applied over a distance. In the case of an airbag, the rapid expansion of gas against the atmospheric pressure represents work done by the system. Since the system is expanding, the work done by the system is considered positive, leading to a positive sign for w.
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First Law of Thermodynamics

The First Law of Thermodynamics states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed from one form to another. In the airbag scenario, the chemical energy from the reactants is converted into thermal energy (heat) and mechanical energy (work) as the gas expands. This principle helps in understanding the relationship between q, w, and the internal energy change of the system.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

It is interesting to compare the 'fuel value' of a hydrocarbon in a hypothetical world where oxygen is not the combustion agent. The enthalpy of formation of CF4(g) is -679.9 kJ/mol. Which of the following two reactions is the more exothermic?

CH4(g) + 2 O2(g) β†’ CO2(g) + 2 H2O(g)

CH4(g) + 4 F2(g) β†’ CF4(g) + 4 HF(g)

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Textbook Question

At the end of 2012, global population was about 7.0 billion people. What mass of glucose in kg would be needed to provide 1500 Cal/person/day of nourishment to the global population for one year? Assume that glucose is metabolized entirely to CO2(𝑔) and H2O(𝑙) according to the following thermochemical equation: C6H12O6(s) + 6 O2(𝑔) β†’ 6 CO2(𝑔) + 6 H2O(𝑙) Ξ”HΒ° = -2803 kJ

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Textbook Question

The automobile fuel called E85 consists of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. E85 can be used in the so-called flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs), which can use gasoline, ethanol, or a mix as fuels. Assume that gasoline consists of a mixture of octanes (different isomers of C8H18), that the average heat of combustion of C8H18(l) is 5400 kJ/mol, and that gasoline has an average density of 0.70 g/mL. The density of ethanol is 0.79 g/mL. (a) By using the information given as well as data in Appendix C, compare the energy produced by combustion of 1.0 L of gasoline and of 1.0 L of ethanol.

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Textbook Question

Consider a system consisting of the following apparatus, in which gas is confined in one flask and there is a vacuum in the other flask. The flasks are separated by a valve. Assume that the flasks are perfectly insulated and will not allow the flow of heat into or out of the flasks to the surroundings. When the valve is opened, gas flows from the filled flask to the evacuated one. (a) Is work performed during the expansion of the gas? (b) Why or why not?

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Textbook Question

A sample of gas is contained in a cylinder-and-piston arrangement. There is an external pressure of 100 kPa. The gas undergoes the change in state shown in the drawing. (b) Now assume that the cylinder and piston are made up of a thermal conductor such as a metal. During the state change, the cylinder gets colder to the touch. What is the sign of q for the state change in this case? Describe the difference in the state of the system at the end of the process in the two cases. What can you say about the relative values of E?

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Textbook Question

A house is designed to have passive solar energy features. Brickwork incorporated into the interior of the house acts as a heat absorber. Each brick weighs approximately 1.8 kg. The specific heat of the brick is 0.85 J/gβ€’K. How many bricks must be incorporated into the interior of the house to provide the same total heat capacity as 1.7⨉103 gal of water?

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