CHEM181: CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERS - LABORATORY

First Semester, AY 2021-2022

JOSE ELY P. PEREZ BSCPE-1

M20-C2-AP2 GROUP F November. 24, 2022

EXPERIMENT NO. 3
HEAT OF COMBUSTION
Objective: Compare the heats of combustion of alcohols of different number of molecular
weights using calorimetry.

Apparatus: digital balance thermometer

aluminum can iron stand, Iron ring,
clay triangle alcohol lamp (spirit burner)
25 mL graduated cylinder 4x4" square cardboard with a hole in the middle
Materials: 300 mL distilled water
3 samples of unknown pure alcohol as fuel
Theory:
The combustion of organic compounds like alcohols produces large quantities of energy.
Ethanol is a commonly used fuel in motor cars and its usage is increasing because it is a form
of renewable energy. But what makes a good fuel? A good fuel is any substance which gives
out large amounts of energy when it is burnt. In most cases, fuels are burnt in oxygen (air),
i.e., they are oxidized. Is there any relationship between the energy released by one alcohol
and another alcohol? This experiment aims to investigate the relationship between the
number of carbon atoms in an alcohol chain and its standard enthalpy change of combustion.
The heat of combustion (standard enthalpy change of combustion) is the enthalpy change
when one mole of the compound undergoes complete combustion in excess oxygen under
standard conditions. It is given the symbol ΔH˚comb and standard conditions simply refer to
room conditions with a temperature of 298K and a pressure of 1 atm. The combustion of
alcohol is an exothermic process. It releases heat to the surrounding resulting to a negative
value.

Procedure:
NOTE: Alcohols are organic substances that are flammable and easily catch fire when
exposed to naked flames. It is a fire hazard. Care must be taken to ensure that any
spills are being cleaned up immediately. Safety goggles must be worn while
performing this experiment. A fire extinguisher should also be kept close by in case
of emergencies
 Figure 1. Heat of Combustion set-up
https://www.aplustopper.com/enthalpy-heat-combustion/

1. Measure 100-mL of water and pour it carefully into an aluminum can.

2. Read the initial temperature of the water Ti. Record.
3. Cover the aluminum can with the cardboard then insert the thermometer through the hole.
4. Weigh the alcohol lamp containing the alcohol sample used as fuel mi. Record.
5. Position the alcohol lamp on top of the block of wood o elevate it. Place the clay shield over it and
put the clay triangle on top of the clay shield.
6. Place the aluminum can on top of the clay triangle. See to it that the distance between the wick of
the alcohol lamp and the aluminum can is approximately 1 cm.
7. Light the alcohol lamp and heat the water.
8. During heating, gently stir the water until it boils, when the water boils, read the temperature of the
water. Record

Note: Do not touch the aluminum can when taking the temperature of the water

9. Remove the aluminum can carefully.

10. Extinguish the flame of the alcohol lamp.
11. Continue stirring the water gently and record the maximum temperature reached. Tf.
12. Reweigh the alcohol lamp burner, mf. Record
13. Repeat steps 1-12 for the other unknown alcohol samples.
14. Calculate the standard enthalpy of combustion per mole of alcohol.
15. Calculate the percentage error.
16. Show complete solutions to all calculations.
17. Plot a graph relating the standard enthalpy of combustion and the number of carbon atoms in an
alcohol.
Quantitative Data and Formulas:
Distilled water
• volume, mL
V = 100 mL
• density of water, g/mL
 = 1.0 g/mL
• specific heat capacity, J/gC
cp = 4.18 J/gC
• mass, g
mw =  V
• change in temperature, C
T = Tf − Ti
• enthalpy change during combustion, J
Hw = mwcpT
• mass of burnt alcohol, g
mA = mi −mf
• molar mass of alcohol, g/mol
MM = 12C + H + 16O
( C - number of carbon atoms, H - number of hydrogen atoms, O - number of oxygen atoms)
n = mA
• number of moles, mol
n = mA
MM
• standard enthalpy of combustion, J/mol
Hcomb = −Hw
N

Calculations: Show complete solutions.

 -3135
STANDARD ENTHALPY OF COMBUSTION

-1922

-900

2 4 6 8

NUMBER OF CARBON ATOMS

Questions:
1. Is a combustion reaction or exothermic? Explain your answer.
- When heat is produced, combustion can be concluded as an exothermic.
2. Why is a combustion important to life?
- Combustion is what makes life, LIFE. We are alive because we have combustion in our own
system of our body and provide us energy. Not only from us but to every other species and
even technologies adapt to combustion and change their ways, to make life way easier.
3. Based on the plotted graph, what relationship can be drawn between the umber of carbon atoms
and their standard enthalpies of combustion?
- What I notice is that enthalpy change of combustion is higher, then the higher amount carbon
in the chain.
4. Give 5 types of combustion and define each type.
A. Complete Combustion - happens when the environment has unlimited supply of oxygen.
B. Rapid Combustion – a flame and heat produce by the substance that can burn “Rapid”.
C. Incomplete Combustion - opposite of complete combustion, limited supply of oxygen in the
area.
D. Explosion – It occurs when there is a sudden mixture of high amount of gas and combustion.
E. Spontaneous Combustion – vast spread of fire without external source(heat).
5. Give 5 examples of combustion in everyday life and explain.
A. Power plants – Combustion that produces energy for daily uses.
B. Propane gas (gas grills) – oxygen and fuel mixed up and help to cook food.
C. Diesel – Vehicles are very needing of combustion, burning of petrol works and power up the
vehicle.
D. Wax candle – combustion needs heat, and burning candle is one great example.
E. Burning of coal - Commonly for people, will feed more oxygen to the burning coal and cause a
combustion.
6. A 1.55-gram sample of pf pentanol C5H11OH is burned and produced a temperature increase of 55
Celsius in 200 g of water. Calculate the heat of combustion of pentanol.
- SOLUTION :
 48g/ 0.0291 -904.9485 33.8488%
mole
167.82g 166.48gg
MA=1.34g

25916 J
301.15k 361.15k 62k

0.013
6 mol
60 -
4.8892%
1922.1898KJ/
195.30g
194.48g MOLE
MA=0.82g

25916 J
302.15k 365.15k 62k

74g/ 0.008
mole 4/
-3135 KJ/MOLE -17.4157%
mole
194.78g
194.16g

MA=0.62g

25916 J
361.15k 63k
302.15k