Anderson Mitchell

Chemistry
P&D S.B.A
Draft 1.

Title: Energetics
Problem Statement
The scout group went on a camping trip into the Arena Forest on the trip John and Stephen were
given responsibility to bring fuel (liquids) for the camp stove. It is observed that the stove using
'fuel A' took a longer time to boil a pot of water when compared to the stove using 'fuel B'. Plan
and design an experiment to determine the enthalpy change of combustion of each fuel.
Hypothesis
Fuel B is the fuel with the highest heat of combustion, thus a greater heat energy output per unit
time.
Aim
To plan and design an experiment to determine the enthalpy change of combustion of each fuel;
fuel A, and fuel B.
Introduction
The burning of a substance in air is called combustion. In chemistry, combustion (or burning)
means reacting with oxygen.
Combustion is a form of oxidation. The main products of combustion from hydrocarbons are
carbon dioxide, water and heat as a form of energy. The reaction is therefore said to
be exothermic (gives out heat energy).
The standard enthalpy change of combustion of a compound is the enthalpy change which occurs
when one mole of the compound is burned completely in oxygen under standard conditions, and

with everything in its standard state. H c

example:

CH4(g) + 2O2(g) CO2(g) + 2H2O(l) + Energy

KJmol-1
Hydrocarbon + oxygen carbon dioxide + water + Energy
(general equation of combustion of a hydrocarbon.)

H c = -890.3

In the above ideal reaction, the energy gained from the reaction is greater than the energy put
into the reaction. Hydrocarbons are mainly used as fuels. It is common knowledge that a spark is
needed to make a hydrocarbon burn. The spark represents the energy need to break the carboncarbon and carbon-hydrogen bonds of the hydrocarbon molecule as well as the oxygen-oxygen
bond of the oxygen molecule. The typical C-C bond requires 350 kJ/mol to break, the typical CH bond requires 413 kJ/mol, and the O-O bond requires about 498 kJ/mol.
Ethanol, (Fuel A) is a clear, colourless, flammable oxygenated hydrocarbon chemically
produced from ethylene and biologically from anaerobic fermentation of various sugars. It is
used in some countries as a gasoline octane enhancer and oxygenate (blended up to 10 percent
concentration). Ethanol can also be used in high concentrations (E85) in vehicles designed for its
use.
Kerosene, (Fuel B) also an organic compound, is a clear, oily, highly flammable liquid with a
strong odor, distilled from petroleum (10 25% of total volume). It is a mixture of about 10
different types of fairly simple hydrocarbons, depending on its source. It is less volatile than
gasoline, boiling at 140 320 C. It is burned in lamps, heaters, and furnaces and is used as a
fuel or fuel component for diesel and tractor engines, jet engines, and rockets and as a solvent for
greases and insecticides
Apparatus and Materials.

Thermometer
2 identical Metal Calorimeter
Heat shielding (Styrofoam sheet) [x2]
Stand (tripod)
2 identical spirit (fuel) burner
2 identical fuel wicks for burners
Ignition source (matches)
Electronic scale

Chemicals

Fuel A, Ethanol
Fuel B, Kerosene
Distilled water

Lid with hole for thermometer

Diagram:

Distilled water (H2O(l))

Method.
Diagram 1 of setup of apparatus of experiment.
1. The apparatus is cleaned and any impurities removed.
2. 50 cm3 of Fuel A (ethanol)Spirit
poured
one of the identical spirit burners, and its weight
burnerinto
(identical)
Fuel
wick
Flame
measured using an electronic scale and the final mass is recorded in a table as m1.
3. 150 cm3 of distilled water poured into one of the identical calorimeters
Stand
hold calorimeter
and contents
4. The apparatus is to be setup
as toshown
in diagram
one.
5. The initial temperature of the water is measured and is recorded in a table as ti.
6. The fuel is ignited and the temperature monitored until the water approached 100 oC
Heat shielding
which was the final temperature
is recorded in a table as tf.
7. The identical spirit burner Fuel
is extinguished
and weighed using an electronic scale, the final
A or B.
mass is recorded in a table as m2.
8. Steps 1-6 is repeated for Fuel B (kerosene) and the respectful values of m1, m2, t1 and t2
recorded in a table.
9. The enthalpy change of combustion of each fuel; fuel A, and fuel B, is then calculated.
Metal calorimeter

Variables.
Manipulated Variable
Type of Fuel combusted.
Responding Variable

Thermometer

Mass of fuel combusted to reach 100 C

Controlled Variable

Mass of water in both experiments

Type on calorimeter
Initial temperature of the water
Final temperature of the water
Electronic scale balance
Spirit burner
Length of wick, thus same size flame.

Expected Results
Table of Results

Fuel A

Fuel B

Initial temperature (ti) C

Final temperature (tf) C
Change in temperature ()
( tf ti ) C
Table of results showing final and initial temperature readings, and the respectful temperature
change for both Fuel A and Fuel B.

Fuel A

Fuel B

Initial Mass of fuel (m1) (g)

Final Mass of fuel (m2) (g)
Mass of fuel used (m1 m2)
(g)
Table of results showing final and initial masses of fuel A and fuel B, as well as the mass of fuel
combusted during the experiment.
Treatment of results
From the data obtained, the enthalpy change of combustion can be calculated with both fuel A,
and fuel B.
Sample Calculation
150 cm3 of water (150g) was measured into the calorimeter.
The spirit burner contained the fuel A, (ethanol) CH3CH2OH ('alcohol') and weighed m1 g at the
start.
After burning it weighed m2 g and the temperature of the water rose from ti to tf (100C).
The temperature rise () C = ( tf ti ) = oC (exothermic, heat energy given out).
Mass of fuel burned = (m1 m2) = m (g).
Heat absorbed by the water = mass of water x SHCwater x temperature change (E=mc)
= 150g x 4.2 x = H J (for m (g).)
Mr (ethanol) = 46 (H=1, C=12, O=16)
Therefore m (g).ethanol = m (g)/46 = X mol
So, scaling up to 1 mole of ethanol burned gives H J x 1/X mol= Y J

Enthalpy of combustion of ethanol = H c

for the reaction:

(ethanol) = - Y Jmol-1

CH3CH2OH(l) + 3O2(g) 2CO2(g) + 3H2O(l)

The same applies for Fuel B, obtaining a value, = - K Jmol-1
Expected Discussions.
Fuel A is ethanol, whilst Fuel B is Kerosene. It was expected that the enthalpy change of
combustion of fuel B is significantly larger than that of fuel A. This is due to the fact that fuel B
possesses more hydrocarbons to be burnt in air, releasing more heat energy, which is to be
transferred into the water in the calorimeter.
Fuel B, however does not burn as clean and as efficient as fuel A, since Fuel B contain
unburnt products such as carbon monoxide, hydrogen and carbon (soot or ash). Thus, the
produced smoke is usually toxic and contains unburned or partially oxidized products.
Due to the fact that Fuel B has a higher value of enthalpy change of combustion, more heat
energy would be produced, in comparison to fuel A, and the water above fuel A, would take a
longer time to reach the evaporation point, and boil.
Limitations

Type of flame produced (yellow/orange) showing incomplete combustion, thus reducing

the efficiency of combustion of the fuel in the experiment.
Heat loss due to surroundings, minor heat absorption into the tripod stand and other
apparatus, and lack of proper insulation.
The apparatus could be defective or old, where the spirit burner could be inefficient and
inconsistent in the combustion rates.
ambient temperature during experiment could fluctuate

Sources of Error

Heat loss due to surroundings, causing an increase in the mass of fuel combusted, to
achieve the desired temperature change
Parallax error in reading the thermometer and measuring cylinder for measuring the
volume of water and fuel for each experiment.
Backlash in the spirit burner
Impure/ more diluted fuels
Reaction time error in extinguishing the flame, causing more fuel to be used.
Unclean apparatus
Zero error in scale was not taken into consideration