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Ch.6 - Thermochemistry
Chapter 6, Problem 105a

Palmitic acid (C16H32O2) is a dietary fat found in beef and butter. The caloric content of palmitic acid is typical of fats in general. Write a balanced equation for the complete combustion of palmitic acid and calculate the standard enthalpy of combustion. What is the caloric content of palmitic acid in Cal/g? The standard enthalpy of formation of palmitic acid is -208 kJ/mol and that of sucrose is -2226.1 kJ/mol. [Use H2O(l) in the balanced chemical equations because the metabolism of these compounds produces liquid water.]

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Key Concepts

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

Combustion Reactions

Combustion reactions involve the reaction of a substance with oxygen to produce heat and light, typically resulting in the formation of carbon dioxide and water. In the case of palmitic acid, the complete combustion reaction can be represented by a balanced chemical equation that shows the reactants and products. Understanding how to balance these equations is crucial for accurately representing the stoichiometry of the reaction.
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Enthalpy of Combustion

The enthalpy of combustion is the heat released when one mole of a substance is completely burned in oxygen under standard conditions. It is typically expressed in kJ/mol. To calculate the standard enthalpy of combustion for palmitic acid, one can use the enthalpy of formation values of the reactants and products, applying Hess's law to find the overall energy change during the reaction.
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Caloric Content

Caloric content refers to the amount of energy provided by a substance when it is metabolized, usually expressed in calories per gram (Cal/g). For palmitic acid, this can be calculated from the enthalpy of combustion, as the energy released during combustion corresponds to the energy available for metabolism. Understanding the relationship between enthalpy and caloric content is essential for evaluating the nutritional value of dietary fats.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

A 25.5-g aluminum block is warmed to 65.4 °C and plunged into an insulated beaker containing 55.2 g water initially at 22.2 °C. The aluminum and the water are allowed to come to thermal equilibrium. Assuming that no heat is lost, what is the final temperature of the water and aluminum?

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Textbook Question

If 50.0 mL of ethanol (density = 0.789 g/mL) initially at 7.0 °C is mixed with 50.0 mL of water (density = 1.0 g/mL) initially at 28.4 °C in an insulated beaker, and assuming that no heat is lost, what is the final temperature of the mixture?

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Open Question
Calculate the caloric content of table sugar (sucrose, C12H22O11), given that the standard enthalpy of formation of sucrose is -2226.1 kJ/mol. For comparison, the standard enthalpy of formation of palmitic acid (C16H32O2), a dietary fat found in beef and butter, is -208 kJ/mol. Use H2O(l) in the balanced chemical equations, as the metabolism of these compounds produces liquid water.
Textbook Question

Palmitic acid (C16H32O2) is a dietary fat found in beef and butter. The caloric content of palmitic acid is typical of fats in general. Which dietary substance (sugar or fat) contains more Calories per gram? The standard enthalpy of formation of palmitic acid is -208 kJ/mol and that of sucrose is -2226.1 kJ/mol. [Use H2O(l) in the balanced chemical equations because the metabolism of these compounds produces liquid water.]

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Open Question
Hydrogen and methanol have both been proposed as alternatives to hydrocarbon fuels. Use standard enthalpies of formation to calculate the amount of heat released per kilogram of methanol fuel and per kilogram of hydrogen fuel.
Textbook Question

Hydrogen and methanol have both been proposed as alternatives to hydrocarbon fuels. Which fuel contains the most energy in the least mass?

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