Calculating Heat Value for Alcohol Combustion

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    Alcohol Combustion
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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the heat value of alcohol combustion, specifically for ethanol, methanol, propanol, and octanol. The key formula involves the change in enthalpy (ΔH) to determine the heat produced in kilojoules per mole (kJ/mole). The experiment utilized a calorimeter to measure temperature changes in water as alcohol was burned, requiring conversion from calories to joules for accurate calculations. Understanding the definition of a calorie is essential, as it represents the heat needed to raise the temperature of one gram of water by one degree Celsius.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of calorimetry and its principles
  • Knowledge of thermodynamics, specifically enthalpy (ΔH)
  • Familiarity with unit conversions, particularly calories to joules
  • Basic chemistry concepts related to combustion reactions
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the specific heat capacity of water and its role in calorimetry
  • Learn how to calculate ΔH for combustion reactions
  • Study the conversion factors between calories and joules
  • Explore the combustion properties of various alcohols and their heat values
USEFUL FOR

Chemistry students, researchers in thermodynamics, and anyone conducting experiments on fuel combustion and calorimetry will benefit from this discussion.

hurricane_xx
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Hey.
We have an assignment where we're investigating combustion of types of 'fuels'. I chose 4 alcohols- ethanol, methanol, propanol and octanol. I did a few experiments, with one testing the heat produced

Could you please explain the formula for the heat value- not quite sure what its called :| I need to find out heat produced kj/mole. It was a test where I burned a water-filled calirometer with the alcohol and recorded the waters temp evry 15 seconds under a period of time, and the measurements of the alcohol lost.

The teacher couldn't explain it. He just confused me even more.. well if it helps, all i remember about the formula is it contained delta H. haha I am a little clueless. sorry.

Thanks :)
 
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Do your work in units of calories. Somewhere, you need to find how to convert calories to joules. You must know the meaning of 1 calorie; your calculation of results should be uncomplicated. Amount of heat needed to raise temperature of one gram of water by one degree centigrade = calorie
 

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