Energy problem - ice melted by burning ethanol

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a homework problem involving the calculation of how many grams of ice at 0°C can be melted by the heat produced from burning 10.0g of ethanol. The scope includes theoretical and mathematical reasoning related to combustion reactions and heat transfer.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related, Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant outlines the combustion reaction of ethanol and calculates the heat of formation, questioning whether to use the calculated heat or a standard value from a chart.
  • Another participant suggests using the latent heat of fusion of ice and the energy released by burning ethanol to set up an equation for the mass of ice that can be melted.
  • A later reply acknowledges a mistake in the initial calculation regarding the energy value used for ethanol.
  • Participants engage in a brief exchange about the educational background of the original poster, confirming their status as a high school chemistry student.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

The discussion does not reach a consensus on the correct approach to the problem, as one participant expresses uncertainty about which heat value to use, and another corrects a previous misunderstanding about the energy calculation.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved aspects regarding the specific values for the heat of formation and latent heat of fusion, as well as the assumptions made in the calculations.

Who May Find This Useful

Students studying chemistry or physics, particularly those dealing with thermodynamics and energy calculations in chemical reactions.

philtered
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Homework Statement


How many grams of ice at 0°C could be melted by the heat produced when 10.0g of ethanol is burned?

Homework Equations


So I wrote out the combustion reaction:
C2H5OH +3O2 ---> 2CO2 + 3H2O

The Attempt at a Solution


First I though I had to find heat of formation for that reaction, which I found to be -1235.6kJ (So this would be the heat given off when ethanol is burned correct?)
Hf=products-reactants
Hf=[-393.6(2)+-242(3)]-[-277.6+0]
Hf=-1235.6kJ

I wasn't sure if I had to use that number or if I had to just pull the Hf number off my chart for ethanol (-277.6kJ)

I have the answer given to me, but I'm stuck at converting my kJ to g of water. (Answer is 802g)

Tried: 1235.6kJ[1mol/6.03kJ][18.02g/1mol]
 
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You need to constants. The latent heat of fusion of ice (let us denote it by L_{f}) and the energy released by burning a unit mass of ethanol (let us denote it by q). Then, you simply have:

Heat needed to melt mass m(\texrm{ice}) = L_{f} \cdot m(\textrm{ice})

Heat released by burning mass m(\textrm{ethanol}) = q \cdot m(\textrm{ethanol})

These are equal, so, you have an equation for m(\textrm{ice}):


<br /> m(\textrm{ice}) = \frac{q}{L_{f}} m(\textrm{ethanol})<br />
 
Thanks for the help. It worked out with that. Also the q value I was using was wrong, had forgot to take into account the 10g of ethanol being burned.
 
cool. am i right to assume you're a chem student?
 
Yeah I am. Right now just the high school course, next year I'm doing Physics with a minor in Chem
 

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