EXPERIMENT No.

4
HEAT OF COMBUSTION

I. Introduction

Burning or combustion is a chemical reaction that takes place between chemicals,

frequently with oxygen, and produces heat as a result. The total quantity of heat released when
a substance completely burns is known as the heat of combustion or the heat of combustion.
This chemical reaction is exothermic, and the final number has a negative sign because heat is
generated during the process. The heat of combustion is measured in the experiment below by
heating a specific volume of water and alcohol until their initial temperatures rise by a factor
of 20°c. We multiply the mass of the water with its specific heat and the change in temperature,
then divide by the mole of alcohol burned in the reaction to find the ∆H, specifically in kJ/mole
as required by the problems in this experiment.

II. Procedure

1. Weigh the aluminium can and record its mass.

2. Measure 300mL of water and pour it carefully into the can.
3. Insert a thermometer into the can and record its initial temperature (T1).
4. Place the can in the clamp on the retort stand.
5. Weigh the capped ethanol spirit burner and record the mass.
6. Light the burner and heat the water until the temperature rises by 20oC.
7. Extinguish the flame and cap the burner. Stir the water gently and record the
maximum temperature reached (T2).
8. Reweigh the spirit burner and determine the mass difference.
9. Calculate the standard enthalpy of combustion.
𝑒𝑛𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑙𝑝𝑦 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑑𝑢𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑏𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛, (∆𝐻)
∆𝐻°𝒄 =
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑙𝑐𝑜ℎ𝑜𝑙
where ∆H = mc∆t
m = mass of water
c = specific heat of water
∆t = change in temperature
𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑙𝑐𝑜ℎ𝑜𝑙 𝑏𝑢𝑟𝑛𝑡
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑙𝑐𝑜ℎ𝑜𝑙 = 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑙𝑐𝑜ℎ𝑜𝑙
10. Repeat the process using propanol and butanol.
 III. Materials/Instrument/Chemical Used
Triple Beam Balance Aluminum can Thermometer

Iron stand Clamp

Boss head Alcohol lamps Graduated cylinder

IV. Results and Observations

ETHANOL PROPANOL BUTANOL

Mass of aluminum can 14 grams 13 grams 14.1 grams
Mass of water 300 grams 300 grams 300 grams
Mass of capped alcohol lamp filled with 140.35 grams 135.25 grams 110.5 grams
alcohol before burning
Mass of capped alcohol lamp filled with 136.70 grams 132.1 grams 109.6 grams
alcohol after burning
Mass of alcohol burnt 3.65 grams 3.15 grams 0.9 grams
Molar mass of alcohol 46.07 g/mol 60.10 g/mol 74.12 g/mol
Initial Temperature of water (𝑇1) 31°c 31°c 31°c
Final Temperature of water (𝑇2) 54°c 50°c 50°c
(∆H°c) Experimental -359.13 kJ/mol -477 kJ/mol -2385 kJ/mol
(∆Hc°) Theoretical -1360 kJ/mol -2021 kJ/mol -2676 kJ/mol
Percent error 73.59% 76.40% 10.87%
Table 1.1: Results.

Ethanol
Given: mass of H2O = 300 grams
∆T = 54°c - 31°c = 23°c
3.65
Mole of ethanol used = 46.07 = 0.08 mol
Required: Find the experimental heat of
combustion of ethanol
Equation: q system + q surr = 0
Solution: q system + q surr = 0
q ethanol = -q H2O
q ethanol = -(MH2O)(SH2O)(∆T)
q ethanol = -(300 g)(4.184 J/g°c)(23°c)
q ethanol = -28869.6 J or -28.87 kJ
∆H = q ethanol = -28.87 kJ
Ethanol
Given: ∆H°c theoretical = -1360 kJ/mol
∆H°c experimental = -359.13 kJ/mol
Required: Find the percent (%) error
Equation: % error =
𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒−𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒
| | 𝑥100
𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒
Solution: % error =
(−1360 𝑘𝐽/𝑚𝑜𝑙)−(−359.13 𝑘𝐽/𝑚𝑜𝑙)
| | 𝑥100
−1360 𝑘𝐽/𝑚𝑜𝑙
% error = 73.59%

Since we need to look for ∆H in kJ/mol: Answer: The % error of ethanol is 73.59%
∆H = q/mol
∆H = -28.73 kJ/0.08 mol
∆H = -359.13 kJ/mol

Answer: The experiment heat of combustion of

ethanol is ∆H = -359.13 kJ/mol
Propanol
Given: mass of H2O = 300 grams
∆T = 50°c - 31°c = 19°c
3.15
Mole of propanol used = 60.10 = 0.05 mol
Required: Find the experimental heat of
combustion of propanol
Equation: q system + q surr = 0
Solution: q system + q surr = 0
q ethanol = -q H2O
q ethanol = -(MH2O)(SH2O)(∆T)
q ethanol = -(300 g)(4.184 J/g°c)(19°c)
q ethanol = -23848.8 J or -23.85 kJ
∆H = q ethanol = -23.85 kJ
Propanol
Given: ∆H°c theoretical = -2021 kJ/mol
∆H°c experimental = -477 kJ/mol
Required: Find the percent (%) error
Equation: % error =
𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒−𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒
| | 𝑥100
𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒
Solution: % error =
(−2021 𝑘𝐽/𝑚𝑜𝑙)−(−477 𝑘𝐽/𝑚𝑜𝑙)
| | 𝑥100
−2021 𝑘𝐽/𝑚𝑜𝑙
% error = 76.40%

Since we need to look for ∆H in kJ/mol: Answer: The % error of propanol is 76.40%
∆H = q/mol
∆H = -23.85 kJ/0.05 mol
 ∆H = -477 kJ/mol

Answer: The experiment heat of combustion of

propanol is ∆H = -477 kJ/mol
Butanol
Given: mass of H2O = 300 grams
∆T = 50°c - 31°c = 19°c
0.9
Mole of butanol used = 74.12 = 0.01 mol
Required: Find the experimental heat of
combustion of ethanol
Equation: q system + q surr = 0
Solution: q system + q surr = 0
q ethanol = -q H2O
q ethanol = -(MH2O)(SH2O)(∆T)
q ethanol = -(300 g)(4.184 J/g°c)(19°c)
Butanol
Given: ∆H°c theoretical = -2676 kJ/mol
∆H°c experimental = -2385 kJ/mol
Required: Find the percent (%) error
Equation: % error =
𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒−𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒
| | 𝑥100
𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒
Solution: % error =
(−2676 𝑘𝐽/𝑚𝑜𝑙)−(−2385 𝑘𝐽/𝑚𝑜𝑙)
| | 𝑥100
−2676 𝑘𝐽/𝑚𝑜𝑙

q ethanol = -23848.8 J or -23.85 kJ

∆H = q ethanol = -23.85 kJ % error = 10.87%

Answer: The % error of butanol is 10.87%

Since we need to look for ∆H in kJ/mol:
∆H = q/mol
∆H = -23.85 kJ/0.01 mol
∆H = -2385 kJ/mol

Answer: The experiment heat of combustion of

butanol is ∆H = -2385 kJ/mol
Table 1.2: Computations.

V. Discussion

To collect the data needed, we used laboratory measuring equipment such as; the triple
beam balance for aluminum can and alcohols, beaker, graduated cylinder, stirring rod for the
water, and thermometer for measuring the temperature. To start the experiment, we first
measured the mass of aluminum can for ethanol, which gives us 14 g. Water was also
measured, giving us 300 g; its initial temperature of 31°c and its final temperature, right after
it was heated is 54°c. It is followed by measurement of the mass of a capped alcohol lamp
filled with alcohol before burning (140.35 g) and after burning (136.70 g), giving us the mass
of alcohol burnt (3.65 g). For the experiment, the heat of combustion has an equation of q/mol.
The mole of ethanol is 0.08 mol (mass of alcohol burnt/molar mass of alcohol). The q is -28.87
kJ (-(M)(Cp)(T)). The experimental heat of combustion is thus -360.87 kJ/mol, with a percent
error of 73.59% (|theoretical value - experimental value/theoretical value| x 100).
 We will now proceed to Propanol, where the mass of the aluminum can is 13 g, the
mass of water in propanol is 300 g; its initial temperature is 31 °C and its final temperature,
right after it was heated, was 50 °C. Then, it was followed by the mass of the capped alcohol
lamp filled with alcohol before burning (135.25 g) and after burning (132.1 g), giving us the
answer of the mass of alcohol burnt (3.15 g). To get the experimental heat of combustion of
propanol, we used the equation q/mol. To solve the experiment of combustion, we first solved
the mole of ethanol by using the equation (mass of alcohol burnt/molar mass of alcohol) to get
the answer of 0.05 mol and the q by using the equation (-(M)(Cp)(T)) to get the answer of -
23.85 kJ. Heat of combustion of propanol can now be solved by using the equation (q/mol) to
get the answer of 477 kJ/mol, with a percent error of 76.40% (|theoretical value - experimental
value/theoretical value| x 100).
And for the last alcohol, we have Butanol. In collecting the data, we started by
measuring the mass of aluminum can, which gives us 14.1 g, followed by the mass of water
(300 g); the initial temperature of the water is 31 °C, while the final temperature is 50 °C,
giving us the mass of alcohol burnt, 0.9 g. Then, we proceed by computing the experimental
heat of combustion of butanol by using the equation q/mol. The mole of butanol is 0.01 mol
(mass of alcohol burnt/molar mass of alcohol). The q is -23.85 kJ (-(M)(Cp)(T)). The
experiment heat of combustion of butanol was then calculated -2385 kJ/mol (q/mol) with a
percent error of 10.87% (|theoretical value - experimental value/theoretical value|) x 100.

VI. Conclusion

In our conclusion, the values of heat of combustion of the three liquid alcohols are: in
capped alcohol it has a heat of combustion of -360.87 kJ/mol, for propanol it has a 477 kJ/mol
heat of combustion, and the butanol had a heat of combustion of -2385 kJ/mol. In the comparison
of their heat of combustion propanol has the highest heat combustion. While, the capped and
butanol both have a negative heat combustion. But, capped has a greater heat combustion than the
butanol which had the least heat combustion. In the relation of the number of carbon atoms in an
alcohol and its heat combustion, The number of carbon atom in an alcohol is directly proportional
in its heat combustion. If the carbon atom in an alcohol increase, also the heat combustion increase.