Chuluunzorigt 1

Tsogjavkhlant

Mr Carter

Chemistry HL

15 February 2016

Enthalpy change of combustion of different alcohols

Set up:

Fig., 1 Image of setup. Photo by Tsogjavkhlant. 2 February 2016

Quantitative data: The quantitative data of this experiment is the measurements of the

initial and the end mass of the alcohol and the temperature change during the combustion

reaction.

Qualitative data: When burning the flame for all the alcohols were yellow at the top and

orange at the bottom. Butanol had the most flame then propanol and ethanol respectively.

When started heating, black soot formed at the bottom of the aluminium calorimeter. Butanol

had the thickest soot and then propanol and ethanol respectively. I believe this is because

butanol has the greatest number of carbon atoms and ethanol had the lowest.
 Chuluunzorigt 2

Data table:

Table 1: Measurements of the mass and temperature before and after being used to heat water
Average
Alcohols Measurement Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3
change

Initial mass (g) 181.60 180.98 180.23

0.71
Final mass (g) 180.98 180.23 179.48
Propanol
Initial temperature (oC) 21.8 21.5 21.9
23.8
Final temperature ( C)
o 45.7 45.1 45.9

Initial mass (g) 207.97 207.32 206.60

0.71
Final mass (g) 207.32 206.60 205.83
Ethanol
Initial temperature (oC) 21.8 22.2 22.2
22.1
Final temperature ( C)
o 43.6 44.3 44.5

Initial mass (g) 179.41 178.75 178.06

0.67
Final mass (g) 178.75 178.06 177.40
Butanol
Initial temperature (oC) 22.3 21.2 21.4
22.8
Final temperature ( C)
o 45.5 46 41.9

Average mass change: highlighted in yellow

Average temperature change: highlighted in green

Experimental calculation: The calculation provided is applicable all the other alcohols.

Calculation for finding the enthalpy change for ethanol has been used as an example below.

Heat energy change:

q= mCT

Mass (m) is assumed to be the mass of water, which is 100g +/-1g

Specific heat capacity (c) is equal to 4.18

Average temperature change (T) for ethanol is 22.1oC +/-0.1oC

q= 100x 4.18x 22.1= 9237.8J  9240J*

* the final answer should be expressed to 3 significant figures, as this is the smallest number

of significant figures used.

 Chuluunzorigt 3

Uncertainty:

- Average temperature change is 22.1oC +/- 0.1oC

0.1
x 100=0.45 %
22.1

- Mass is 100g +/-1g

1
x 100=1 %
100

Total uncertainty: 1+0.45= 1.45% 9240J +/-1.45%

9240
Absolute uncertainty: x 1.45=133.98 9240J +/-130J*
100

 the significant figure of the uncertainty should be one lower than the final answer.

The final answer has 3 significant figures and the uncertainty therefore should have 2

significant figures.

Enthalpy change calculation:

−q
H=
n

Mass
Number of moles=
Mr

Mass is the average mass change of the spirit burner, which is 0.71g for ethanol

The molecular mass (Mr) of ethanol ( C2H5OH) is 46

0.71
Number of moles= n= 0.0155moles
46

−9240
Enthalpy change (H)= H= -596129.03J -596kJ mol-1
0.0155
 Chuluunzorigt 4

Bond Enthalpy (theoretical):

The complete combustion reaction of ethanol

C 2 H 5 OH (g) + 3O 2 (g) 2CO 2 (g) + 3H 2 O (g)

Bonds broken: Bonds formed

1mol C—C= 346kJ mol-1 4mol C=O = (4x804)= 3216kJ mol-1

1mol C—O= 358kJ mol-1 6mol H—O= (6x463)= 2778kJ mol-1

5mol C—H= (5x414)= 2070kJ mol-1

1mol H—O= 463kJ mol-1

3mol O= O = (3x 498)= 1494kJ mol-1

Total energy put in= 4731kJ mol-1 Total energy given out= 5994kJ mol-1

H= bonds broken- bonds formed

H= 4731- 5994= -1263kJ mol-1

Data table:

Table 2: Comparison between experimental and theoretical data for all alcohol

Theoretical kJ mol-1 Experimental kJ mol-1

Ethanol -1263 -596

Propanol -1856 -843

Butanol -2489 -1047

Conclusion:

All of the values of enthalpy changes are negative because it is an exothermic

reaction. From the table it can be seen that, as the molecule becomes larger, the enthalpy

combustion increases. The formula for ethanol is C2H5OH, propanol C3H7OH and butanol
 Chuluunzorigt 5

C4H9OH. As the number of carbon atom increases, the molecular mass also increases. As one

carbon atom is added 2 hydrogen atoms also add to the molecular formula. Ethanol has eight

sigma bonds, propanol has eleven sigma bonds and butanol has fourteen sigma bonds. As one

carbon is added three more sigma bonds add as well. Therefore, more bonds mean it requires

more energy to break the bonds.

From table 2, it can be seen that the experimental data is not close to the theoretical

data. First of all, the main reason for the major difference is because of incomplete

combustion of fuel. It can also be seen from the qualitative result that there were formation of

soot for all of them. This is because there weren’t enough oxygen for the fuel to burn

completely. Oxygen was the limiting reagent in the reaction. As a result, the reaction product

was carbon in a solid form (“Combustion”). Incomplete combustion results in the fuel being

used inefficiently (lacked oxygen), therefore it releases less energy compared to complete

combustion reaction.

Second of all, a lot heat was lost to the surrounding from the water. Also, there was

some heat transferred to the aluminium calorimeter, which, cannot be calculated. When

calculating the heat energy change (q), the heat transferred to the aluminium calorimeter was

not considered. Therefore, the experiment becomes very inaccurate and results in many

errors.

Improvements:

Weakness Improvement Impact

Heat loss to surrounding Use insulation around the This decreases heat loss to
from water calorimeter surrounding from water

Surrounding lacked oxygen Carry out experiment in an This experiment will result in
oxygen rich environment complete combustion rather
than incomplete.

Conducted only three trials Conduct more than 3 trials Multiple trials will show
consistency of data and
consistent findings will
 Chuluunzorigt 6

support the value of the

conclusion
Random errors in Take more than one Therefore random errors will
measurements (grams) measurements and use the reduce and will give accurate
average value results

Works cited

"Combustion of Alcohols." Chemistry Tutorial :. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Feb. 2016.

<http://www.ausetute.com.au/combustol.html>.