Answer to Question #129944 in General Chemistry for Mary

Question

Hi,
In a calorimetry experiment, butane was burnt to heat water. The heat change of the water was 28500 J.
Please determine the enthalpy change of the butane . Thanks

Answer 1

The heat gained by water = the heat lost by fuel.

In order to determine the enthalpy change of the butane You have to know the moles of fuel consumed during the experiment, found from measurements of the volume or mass of fuel consumed.

$ΔH(C_{4}H_{10}) = - \frac {28500 J} {n(C_{4}H_{10}) mol}$