8. A constant volume calorimeter has a specific heat of 1.58 kJ/K. a) Calculate the molar internal energy change for combustion of 230 mg naphthalene (C₁0H8(s)) which causes the temperature to increase by 2.08 K. b) Calculate the enthalpy change for this reaction. c) Is the enthalpy change or internal energy change greater for this process? Explain your reasoning.
Thermochemistry
Thermochemistry can be considered as a branch of thermodynamics that deals with the connections between warmth, work, and various types of energy, formed because of different synthetic and actual cycles. Thermochemistry describes the energy changes that occur as a result of reactions or chemical changes in a substance.
Exergonic Reaction
The term exergonic is derived from the Greek word in which ‘ergon’ means work and exergonic means ‘work outside’. Exergonic reactions releases work energy. Exergonic reactions are different from exothermic reactions, the one that releases only heat energy during the course of the reaction. So, exothermic reaction is one type of exergonic reaction. Exergonic reaction releases work energy in different forms like heat, light or sound. For example, a glow stick releases light making that an exergonic reaction and not an exothermic reaction since no heat is released. Even endothermic reactions at very high temperature are exergonic.
Given that:
The specific heat of a constant volume calorimeter = 1.58 kJ/K g
Given the mass of the naphthalene sample = 230 mg
The required change in temperature of the calorimeter = 2.08 K
The molar mass of naphthalene (C10H8) = 128.18 g/mol
The number of moles of naphthalene (n) is then given by the following relation:
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