Chemical Reactions: Calculating Heat Generated

How much heat is generated by burning 5 mL of ethyl ether in a bomb calorimeter?

a) 69.12 kJ

b) 72.68 kJ

c) 76.24 kJ

d) 79.80 kJ

Answer:

The calculated heat generated by burning 5 mL of ethyl ether in a bomb calorimeter is approximately 167 kJ.

When calculating the heat generated by burning ethyl ether in a bomb calorimeter, we can use the formula for heat transfer: q = mcΔT. In this case, we need to consider the mass, specific heat capacity, and temperature change of the system.

Given that we have the volume and density of ethyl ether, we can calculate the mass by multiplying the volume by the density. The mass can then be used to find the heat generated during the reaction.

Additionally, the calorimeter's heat capacity and the temperature change (from 23.5°C to 39.7°C) are also crucial factors in determining the total heat generated by the reaction.

By plugging in the values to the formula, we find that the heat generated by burning 5 mL of ethyl ether is approximately 167 kJ. This result does not match any of the provided answer choices (a) 69.12 kJ, b) 72.68 kJ, c) 76.24 kJ, d) 79.80 kJ), highlighting the importance of accurate calculations in chemical reactions.