Thermochemistry

Heat of combustion

The heat of combustion is the heat change when

1 mol of substance is completely burnt in oxygen
under standard conditions.

Heat of combustion of various alcohol

Molecular No. of carbon Mass of Heat

Name formula atom per alcohol molecula combustion
(CnH2n+1OH) molecule r relative ∆H (kJ mol-1)
Methanol CH3OH 1 32 -725
Ethanol C2H5OH 2 46 -1376
Propan-1-ol C3H7OH 3 60 -2015
Butan-1-ol C4H9OH 4 74 -2676

What inferens can be made from the table above?

- If the number of carbon atom per molecule of alcohol is
higher, the heat of combustion also increases.
- The difference in heat of combustion between alcohol
member is almost the same because each alcohol member
difference is in one group of –CH2
Example of reaction of heat combustion in substance ;
i. Methanol,
3
CH3OH (ce) + 2 O2 (g) → CO2 (g) + 2H2O (ce)
∆H = -725 kJmol-1
When 1 mole of methanol burnt, 725 kJ of heat is releases. ii.
Ethanol,
C2H5OH (ce) + 3O2 (g) → 2CO2 (g) + 3H2O (ce)
∆H = -1376 kJmol-1
iii. Propan-1-ol,
9
C3H7OH (ce) + 2 O2 (g) → 3CO2 (g) + 4H2O (ce)
∆H = -2015 kJmol-1
iv. Butan-1-ol,
C4H9OH (ce) + 6O2 (g) → 4CO2 (g) + 5H2O (ce)
∆H = -2676 kJmol-1

Method to determine the heat of combustion of fuel

To determine the heat of combustion of methanol
○
Thermometer

Asbestos
screen
Copper
container
250 cm3
water
●
Tripod stand

Methanol Spirit lamp

Wooden block

Procedure;
250 cm3 of water is measured with measuring cylinder 100ml and
poured into copper container, the temperature of water is
recorded with thermometer (0-110)oC.
A spirit lamp is filled with methanol until half full.
A spirit lamp and are weighed with electrical balanced. and the mass is
recorded.
The spirit lamp is placed under copper container, and the wick is lighted.
The water is stirred.
When the temperature of water is increases 30 oC, the spirit lamp is
distinguished.
Spirit lamp is weighed immediately, and the mass is recorded.
The experiment is repeated using different alcohol.
Precautions steps;
- Use copper container or any suitable metal.
(metal is condustor, all heat from combustion of fuel was absorb
by water)
- Spirit flame is placed on a wooden block, so the flame contact
directly the copper container.
(A bigger area of the flame can be in contact with the copper
container)
- Wire gauze is not used.
(to prevent wire gauze absorb heat energy)
- Asbestos screen is placed around the copper container.
(to avoid heat loss to surrounding)
- The water must always be stirred.
(temperature changes is uniform)

In this experiment, you need to get the following data;

Data tabulation;
Initial temperature of water /oC x

Highest temperature of water /oC y

Temperature rise /oC 30

Initial mass of metanol + spirit lamp /g a

Final mass of methanol + spirit lamp /g b

Mass of methanol burnt /g (a – b) g

Calculation of heat of combustion

Chemical equation
 3
CH3OH +2 O2 → CO2 + 2H2O

No ionic equation!

1. Calculate the number of mole of methanol (fuel used)

Mass of methanol = (a – b) g
Molar mass of methanol = 12 + 3(1) + 16 + 1
= 32 g mol-1
mass (a - b) .
No. of mole of methanol = = 32 = c mol
Molar mass
2. Calculate the heat given out/releases during reaction;
[From the experiment]
Volume of water
Heat release during reaction = mcӨ
= 200 x 4.2 x 30 J

=100 x 4.2 x 30 kJ
1000
3. Calculate the heat of neutralization

c mol of methanol produces 100 x 4.2 x 30 heat

1000

Therefore, heat release by burnt of one mol of methanol,

100 x 4.2 x 30
1000 .
= c kJ mol-1

Thus;
 The heat of combustion of methanol;

∆H = - [ 100 x 4.2 x 30 ] kJmol-1

1000 x c
Very easylah!

Fuel Value
The amount of heat energy give out when 1 g of the fuel is
completely burnt in excess of oxygen.

Fuel value can be use to compare the energy cost..

Relative Heat of
Mass of 1 Burnt substance
Name molecula combustion,
mol (g) (kJ g-1)
r mass ∆H (kJ mol-1)
Metanol 32 -725 32 725/32 = 22.66
Etanol 46 -1376 46 1376/46 = 29.91
Propan-1-
60 -2015 60 2015/60 = 33.58
ol
Butan-1-ol 74 -2676 74 2676/74 = 36.16

How much the price of 1 g for each burnt substance above?

Calculation for heat of combustion

Question 1
Heat from combustion of 0.28 g oktane, C8H18 increasing temperature
of 200 cm3 water from 30 oC to 46 oC. Based on this information,
[ Ar: H, 1; C, 12; O, 16; 1 mole gas is occupy 24 dm3]
i. calculate the heat of combustion for octane
ii. value of fuel for octane
iii. volume of oxygen that need
iv. mass of water produce

Solution
Chemical equation;
25
C8H18 (ce) + 2 O2 (g) → 8CO2 (g) + 9H2O (ce)

Calculate no. of mol of fuel

mass . 0.28
No. of mol for octane = molar mass = 114 = 0.0025 mol

Calculate the heat changes/total heat release in this experiment

Temperature changes = (highest temp – initial temp) oC

= ( 46 – 30) oC
= 16 oC
m = volume of water
Heat release = mcØ ( 1cm3 = 1 g)
(exothermic react.) = 200 x 4.2 x 16 J
= 13440 J 1 kJ = 1000 J
= 13.44 kJ

Calculate the heat of combustion

Combustion 0.0025 of mol of octane releasing 13.44 kJ of heat.

Therefore;
Combustion of 1 mol octane releases;
13.44
= 0.0025 kJ mol-1

= 5376 kJ mol-1
Thus;
Heat of combustion for octane = - 5376 kJ mol-1
∆H = - 5376 kJ mol-1

Caculate the fuel value of octane

Mr oktane, C8H18 = (8 x 12) + 18 = 114 gmol-1

Therefore;
1 mole of octane, C8H18 = 114 g

Thus; Heat of combustion for octane

Fuel value of octane = Mass of one mol of octane
5376
= kJ g-1
114 Make sure the
= 47.15 kJ g-1 unit is correct

Calculate the volume of oxygen

FBCE;
25
1 mol octane need 2 mol oxygen to react completely

Therefore;
25
0.0025 mol octane need 2 x 0.0025 mol oxygen;

= 0.0312 mol oxygen

The number of O2 used in the reaction = 0.0312 mol oxygen

Thus;
The volume of oxygen needed = 0.0312 x 24 dm3
= 0.7488 dm3
= 748.8 cm3
Make sure the
Calculate the mass of water produce unit is correct
FBCE;
1 mole of oktane react completely to produce 9 mole of water

Therefore;
0.0025 mol oktane produce 0.0025 x 9 mol water;

= 0.0225 mol water

The number of mole of water = 0.0225 mol

Thus;
No. of mol for water = Mass of water
Mr of water

Mass of water
(2 x 1) + 16
 0.0225 mol =

Mass of water = 0.0225 x 18 g

= 0.405 g Make sure the
unit is correct

Question 2
Following equation show heat of combustion for ethanol, C2H5OH

C2H5OH (ce) + 3O2 (g) → 2CO2 (g) + 3H2O (ce)

∆H = -1400 kJmol-1
Heat combustion for 0.46 g etanol, is use to heat
200 cm3 of water, calculate the temperature rise of water .

Solution
Step 1 : calculate no. of mol for ethanol that burnt
Mass etanol 0.46
No. of mol etanol = = = 0.01 mol
JMR etanol 46
Step 2 : calculate the heat changes/total heat release in this experiment
[heat combustion for etanol = -1400 kJmol-1] (from ques.)

1 mol etanol burnt releasing 1400 kJ of heat;

So ;
0.1 mol etanol burnt releasing;
= 0.01 x 1400 kJ
= 14 kJ Change kJ to J, we want
= 14000 J of heat substitute it into equation
, mcØ
Step 3 : calculate the temperature rise for water
Total heat release = mcØ
 14000 J = 200 x 4.2 x Ø
14000 . o
Ø = C
200 X 4.2
Ø = 16.7 oC

Question 3
Complete heat combustion for 1 mol butanol, C4H9OH release 2600 kJ
of heat. Calculate the mass for butanol that need to burnt completely so
heat release can increase the temperature for 500 cm3 of water to 36 oC.
[J.A.R: C, 12; O, 16; H, 1]

Solution
Step 1 : calculate the heat changes/total heat release in this experiment

total heat release = mcØ

= 500 x 4.2 x 36 J
= 75600 J
= 75.6 kJ

Step 2 : calculate no. of mol for butanol that burnt

[heat combustion for butanol = -2600 kJmol-1] (from ques.)

2600 kJ heat release by 1 mol butanol that burnt;

so ;
75.6 kJ heat release by 1 x 75.6 kJ mol butanol that burnt;
2600 kJ
= 0.03 mol

No. of mol of etanol that burnt = 0.03 mol

Step 3 : calculate the mass of butanol that burnt

 mass butanol
No. of mol butanol =
JMR butanol
mass butanol .
0.03 mol =
(4 x 12) + 9 + 16 + 1
Mass of butanol = 0.03 x 74
= 2.22 g
Question 4
Energy level diagram for combuction reaction for methanol, CH3OH is
shown below.

CH3OH (ce) + 3O (g)

2 2

Energy
∆ H = - 720 kJmol-1
CO2 (g) + 2H2O (ce)

Heat that release from the complete combustion 8.0 g of methanol, is

use to hot 1 dm3 of water. Calculate the temperature rise of the water.

Solution
Step 1 : calculate no. of mol for ethanol that is burn
Mass of metanol 8.0 .
Mol no for etanol =JMR metanol =12+(3x1)+16+1 = 0.25 mol

Step 2 : calculate the total heat released/absorb in exp.

[heat of combustion for ethanol = -720 kJmol-1] (from question)

1 mol metanol burn releasing 720 kJ of heat;

So ;
0.25 mol methanol that burn releasing;
= 0.25 x 720 kJ
Change kJ to J, we want
= 180 kJ substitute it into formula
= 180000 J of heat , mcØ

Step 3 : calculate the rising in water temperature

Volume of water = 1 dm3
= 1000 cm3

Total heat released = mcØ

180 000 J = 1000 x 4.2 x Ø
180 000 . o
Ø = C
1000 X 4.2
Ø = 42.85 oC

Learning Task 4.8: Problem solving pg 168 no. 1, 2, 3

Effective Practise: pg 173 no. 1, 2, 3
Review Questions: pg 176 to 179

Kamal Ariffin B Saaim

SMKDBL
2008