Given #DeltaH_"combustion"^@# for butane is #-2657*kJ*mol^-1#, what is #"heat of combustion"# for butane in #J*g^-1#?

1 Answer
Mar 22, 2017

#"Heat of combustion of butane"# #-=# #45.7xx10^3*J*g^-1#

Explanation:

We have data for the stoichiometric equation:

#C_4H_10(g)+ 13/2O_2(g)rarr 4CO_2 + 5H_2O# #DeltaH_"rxn"=-2657*kJ*mol^-1#

Note that I halved the equation because it makes the arithmetic a little bit easier. I also had to halve the enthalpy change accordingly.

And thus #"Heat of combustion of butane"# #-=# #(-2657xx10^3*kJ*cancel(mol^-1))/(58.12*g*cancel(mol^-1))=45.7*kJ*g^-1#.