Answer to Question #73977 in Physical Chemistry for Mimi Sanford

Question

A Carnot engine operates using a heat source at 500°C, and a heat sink at room temperature (20°C). Suppose that as a heat source, you use the combustion of 100 cubic feet of natural gas at room temperature and pressure (e.g. in a fuel cell of some kind). Under ideal conditions, what is the largest amount of work that can be generated using this Carnot engine? Thank you! (Use the ideal gas law, PV=nRT, with the gas constant R=8.3 J/Kmol)