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Ch.6 - Thermochemistry
Chapter 6, Problem 60

What mass of natural gas (CH4) must burn to emit 267 kJ of heat? CH4(g) + 2 O2(g) → CO2(g) + 2 H2O(g) ΔH°rxn = –802.3 kJ

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1
Identify the given information: The reaction is CH₄(g) + 2 O₂(g) → CO₂(g) + 2 H₂O(g) with ΔH°rxn = -802.3 kJ.
Understand that the negative sign in ΔH°rxn indicates that the reaction is exothermic, meaning it releases 802.3 kJ of heat per mole of CH₄ burned.
Set up a proportion to find the moles of CH₄ needed to release 267 kJ of heat: (1 mole CH₄ / 802.3 kJ) = (x moles CH₄ / 267 kJ).
Solve the proportion for x to find the moles of CH₄ required to release 267 kJ of heat.
Convert the moles of CH₄ to mass using the molar mass of CH₄ (16.04 g/mol): mass = moles × molar mass.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Stoichiometry

Stoichiometry is the calculation of reactants and products in chemical reactions. It involves using balanced chemical equations to determine the relationships between the amounts of substances consumed and produced. In this case, stoichiometry will help relate the amount of CH4 burned to the heat emitted based on the reaction's enthalpy change.
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Enthalpy Change (ΔH)

Enthalpy change (ΔH) is a measure of the heat absorbed or released during a chemical reaction at constant pressure. A negative ΔH indicates that the reaction is exothermic, meaning it releases heat. For the combustion of methane (CH4), the given ΔH of -802.3 kJ indicates that burning one mole of CH4 releases 802.3 kJ of heat, which is crucial for calculating the mass needed to emit a specific amount of heat.
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Molar Mass

Molar mass is the mass of one mole of a substance, expressed in grams per mole (g/mol). For CH4, the molar mass is approximately 16.04 g/mol. Knowing the molar mass is essential for converting between moles of CH4 and grams, allowing us to determine how much mass is required to produce the desired heat output based on the stoichiometric calculations.
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