How to Calculate the Heat of Combustion for C2H6?

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SUMMARY

The heat of combustion for ethane (C2H6) is calculated using Hess's Law and the provided reactions. By rearranging and balancing the reactions, the final equation derived is C2H6 + 3.5O2 --> 2CO2 + 3H2O, yielding a heat of combustion of -1558.3 kJ. The process involves careful balancing of the chemical equations and the addition of enthalpy values from the given reactions. The calculations confirm that the heat of combustion for C2H6 is definitively -1558.3 kJ.

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  • Understanding of Hess's Law
  • Knowledge of balancing chemical equations
  • Familiarity with enthalpy values of reactions
  • Basic concepts of combustion reactions
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  • Practice balancing complex chemical reactions
  • Explore enthalpy calculations for various hydrocarbons
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Chemistry students, chemical engineers, and professionals involved in thermodynamics and combustion analysis will benefit from this discussion.

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Hello
I am trying to solve this question and have been stumped for quite a while. Can some tell me the steps I have to take in order to solve this.
Question
Calculate the heat of combustion for C2H6 from the following information:
C2H4+ 3O2----> 2 CO2 + 2 H2O -1409.5kJ
C2H4 + H2 ----> C2H2 -136.7 KJ
H2 + 1/2 O2 -----> H2O -285.5 kJ

Thanks for the help
 
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C2H4 + H2 ----> C2H2 -136.7 KJ

there's clearly a typo here, since the rxn isn't balanced. Is the product supposed to be C2H6?
 
if so flip the 2nd equation around so you have C2H6--->C2H4+H2
Now add that to the first one to get

C2H6+C2H4+O2----->CO2+H20+C2H4+H2

Balance the reactions and cancel out the C2H4's
Now add in the 3rd eq H2+O2---->H20
C2H6+H2+O2----->CO2+H20+H2

Balance and cancel out the H2's. You should be able to figure out the heat of combustion following this. I of course did this real sloppily. You will have to make sure you use the correct balanced equations when you do it.
 
Look up Hess's Law.
Solve for reaction: ' C2H6 -> ? '
 
C2H6 --> C2H4 + H2 +136.7kJ
+ C2H4 + 302 --> 2CO2 + 2H20 -1409.5kJ
= C2H6 + 3O2 --> 2CO2 + 2H2O + H2 -1272.8kJ
+ H2 + 1/2 O2 --> H2O -285.5Kj
= C2H6 + 3.5O2 --> 2CO2 + 3H2O - 1558.3kJ

So 1558.3kJ is the final answer?
 

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