Chapter 17, Problem 60A

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation: The standard conditions for the heat of combustion must be found.

Concept Introduction : The chemical process in which a substance reacts with oxygen to give off heat and light is known as combustion.

The heat of combustion is defined as the enthalpy change when one mole of a compound is completely burnt in oxygen with all the reactants and products are in their standard state under standard conditions.

Answer to Problem 60A

The standard conditions for the heat of combustion are $\text{298 K}$ of temperature and $\text{1 atm}$ of pressure.

Explanation of Solution

The heat of combustion of a substance, also known as the calorific value of the substance. For instance, the enthalpy of combustion of ethanol is $-1366.8\text{ kJ/mol}$ , which is the amount of heat generated if $1.00\text{ mol}$ of ethanol undergoes complete combustion at $\text{298 K}$ temperature and $\text{1 atm}$ pressure, yielding products also at $\text{298 K}$ temperature and $\text{1 atm}$ pressure.