Heat of Combustion

Sunday, 24 September 2023 12:46 pm

COMBUSTION - a reaction where the substance and oxygen reacts, that releases heat and
light that makes a flame.

○ Carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) are typical products of combustion. If
oxygen is not sufficient, carbon monoxide (CO) is formed instead.

HEAT OF COMBUSTION (∆Hcomb) - the heat given off when a substance is burnt with
oxygen.

Note: Specific heat of water is 4.184 J/g°C

ALCOHOLS - organic compounds that contain the hydroxyl functional group, -OH. The
general formula for alcohols is
CnH2n+1OH.

- The relationship between the number of carbon atom per alcohol molecule and the
heat of combustion is DIRECTLY PROPORTIONAL. As number of carbon atoms
increases, the enthalpy change (heat of combustion) also increases.

- This tells that the carbon atoms of alcohols increases, it requires more energy for it to
break the C=O bonds and raise its temperature.

Note: Unit for ∆H is kJ/mol (kilojoule per mole).

- Heat of combustion is usually measured in a constant-volume calorimeter like the

bomb calorimeter.

- This is to radically minimize or no heat and mass is lost on the system, which can be
considered as an isolated system.

- Additionally, open system is where heat and mass are transferred, thus lost. Whereas
the closed system allows mass not to be transferred and only heat is transferred.

CHEM 86L Page 1

SIMPLIFIED CONSTANT-VOLUME CALORIMETER

- This is setup of a simple constant-volume calorimeter. It is NOT an isolated system

since the heat of the alcohol burning can spread through the surroundings.

CHEM 86L Page 2