Question

Propane is often used as a home fuel in areas where natural gas is not available. When 3.00 grams of propane (C₃H₈ (g)) are burned in excess oxygen in a bomb calorimeter that has a total heat capacity of 32.7 kJ/K, the temperature of the calorimeter increases by 4.25 K.

a.) Calculate the heat of the calorimeter, q_Cal. (HINT: Units should be in kJ.)

b.) Calculate, by using the First Law of Thermodynamics, the heat of the reaction, q_rxn.

c.) Assuming that ΔE ≈ ΔH, calculate the standard enthalpy of combustion in (i) kilojoules per gram of propane, and (ii) kilojoules per mole of propane.