Thermochemistry  Problems  

The  First  Law  

1. The  complete  combustion  of  acetic  acid,  HC2H3O2(l),  to  form  water,  H2O(l),  and  
CO2(g),  at  constant  pressure  releases  871.7  kJ  of  heat  per  mol  of  acetic  acid.    Write  
a  balanced  thermochemical  equation  for  this  reaction.    Draw  an  enthalpy  
diagram  for  the  reaction.    
 
2. Consider  the  following  reaction,  which  occurs  at  standard  state:      
2Cl(g)®    Cl2(g)      ∆H°  =  –-­‐‑243.4  kJ  
a. Which  has  the  higher,  more  positve,  enthalpy  under  these  conditions,  2Cl  
(g)  or  Cl2(g)?  

b. Consider  the  following  reaction:    2  Mg(s)  +  O2(g)  ®    2  MgO(s)  ∆H  =  -­‐‑1204  kJ.      
c. Is  the  reaction  exothermic  or  endothermic?      
d. Calculate  the  amount  of  heat  transferred  when  2.4  g  of  Mg(s)  reacts  at  
constant  pressure.    How  many  grams  of  MgO  are  produced  during  an  
enthalpy  change  of  96.0  kJ?    
e. How  many  kilo  joules  of  heat  are  absorbed  when  7.50  g  of  MgO(s)  are  
decomposed  into  Mg(s)  and  O2(g)  at  constant  pressure?  

Enthalpy  

Calorimetry  Problems    
3. Determine  the  specific  heat  of  a  sample  of  Cu  from  the  fact  that  64.0J  are  needed  
to  raise  the  temperature  of  15.0  g  of  Cu  metal  from  22.0°C  to  33.0°C.  [0.388  J/g°C]  
4. The  specific  heat  of  a  sample  of  copper    is  0.385  J/g-­‐‑K.    How  many  joules  of  heat  
are  necessary  to  raise  the  temperature  of  a  1.42  kg  block  of  copper  from  25.0  °C  to  
88.5°C?  
5. A  50.0-­‐‑g  sample  of  water  at  100.00°C  was  placed  in  an  insulated  cup.    Then  25.3-­‐‑g  
of  zinc  at  25.00°C  was  added  to  the  water.    The  temperature  of  the  water  
dropped  to  96.68°C.    What  is  the  specific  heat  of  the  zinc?[0.388  J/g°C]  
6. When  a  6.50  g  sample  of  solid  NaOH  dissolves  in  100.0g  of  water  in  a  coffee-­‐‑cup  
calorimeter,  the  temperature  rises  from  21.6°C  to  37.8°C.    Calculate  the  ∆H  (in  
kJ/mol  NaOH)  for  the  solution  process.  (Assume  the  specific  heat  of  the  solution  
formed  is  4.18  J/g-­‐‑K)  
NaOH(s)  ®    Na+(aq)+  OH–(aq)  
7. A  house  is  designed  to  have  passive  solar  energy  features,  Brickwork  is  to  be  
incorporated  into  the  interior  of  the  house  to  act  as  a  heat  absorber.    Each  brick  

Thermochemistry  Problems   Page 1 of 7  

 weighs  approximately  1.8  kg.    The  specific  heat  of  the  brick  is  0.85  j/g-­‐‑K.    How  
many  bricks  must  be  incorporated  into  the  interior  of  the  hose  to  provide  the  
3
same  total  heat  capacity  as  1.0    10  gal  of  water?  

Bomb  calorimetery  
8. When  15.3  g  of  sodium  nitrate  was  dissolved  in  water  in  a  calorimeter,  the  
temperature  fell  from  25.00  °C  to  21.56  °C.    If  the  heat  capacity  of  the  solution  
and  the  calorimeter  is  1071  J/°C,  what  is  the  enthalpy  change  for  the  process  
when  1  mol  of  sodium  nitrate  dissolves  in  water?
 
9. Camphor  (C10H16O)  has  an  energy  of  combustion  of  -­‐‑5903.6  kJ/mol.    When  a  
sample  of  camphor  with  mass  0.1204  g  is  burned  in  a  bomb  calorimeter,  the  
temperature  increases  by  2.28°C.    Calculate  the  heat  capacity  of  the  calorimeter.  
 

Hesses  Law  
10. Consider  the  following  hypothetical  reactions  
A  ®  B     ∆H  =  30  kJ  
B  ®    C   ∆H  =  60  kJ  
Use  Hess’s  law  to  calculate  the  enthalpy  change  for  the  reaction  A  ®  C.    
Construct  an  enthalpy  diagram  for  substances  A,  B,  and  C  and  show  how  Hess’s  
law  applies.  
 
11. Given  the  following  enthalpies  of  reaction:  
P4(s)+3O2(g)®P4O6(s)         ∆H  =  –1640.1  kJ  
P4(s)+  5O2(g)  ®P4H10(s)       ∆H  =  –2940.1  kJ  
Calculate  the  enthalpy  change  for  the  reaction:  P4O6(s)+  2  O2(g)  ®P4H10(s)  
 
12. From  the  following  enthalpies  of  reaction  
H2(g)  +  F2(g)  ®    2HF(g)         ∆H  =    –537  kJ  
C(s)  +  2  F2(g)  ®    CF4(g)         ∆H  =    –680  kJ  
2  C(s)  +  2  H2(g)®    C2H4(g)       ∆H  =  –52.3  kJ  
Calculate  the  ∆H  for  the  reaction  of  C2H4(g)  with  F2(g)  to  make  CF4(g)  and  HF(g)  

Heats  of  formation  

13. Many  cigarette  lighters  contain  liquid  butane,  C4H10(l),  which  has  a  ∆H°ƒ  =  –147.6  
kJ/mol.    Using  enthalpies  of  formation,  calculate  the  quantity  of  heat  produced  
when  1.0  g  of  butane  is  completely  combusted  in  air.    (Write  the  equation  for  the  
process  first1)  
14. Gasoline  is  composed  primarily  of  hydrocarbons  with  eight  carbon  atoms.    These  
hydrocarbons  are  called  octanes.    One  of  the  cleanest  burning  octanes  is  a  

Thermochemistry  Problems   Page 2 of 7  

 compound  called  2,3,4-­‐‑trimethylpentane.    The  complete  combustion  of  1  mol  of  
this  compound  to  CO2(g)  and  water  leads  to  ∆H°rxn  =  –5461  kJ.    Write  a  balanced  
equation  for  the  combustion  of  1  mole  of  C8H18(l).    Write    a  balanced  equation  for  
the  formation  of  C8H18    from  its  elements.    By  using  the  information  in  this  
problem,  calculate  the  heat  of  formation  for  2,3,4-­‐‑trimethylpentane.  

Phase  changes  
∆Hfus=  6.01  kJ/mol  or  333  J/g,  ∆Hvap=  40.67  kJ/mol  or  2257  J/g;  Specific  heat  of  
water  =  4.184  J/g°C.  

15. A  bag  of  ice  was  placed  on  a  patient’s  head.    The  ice  bag  contained  220.0g  of  ice  
at  0.00°C.    When  the  ice  bag  was  removed,  all  of  the  ice  inside  had  melted  and  
the  liquid  had  a  temperature  of  21.00°C.    How  many  joules  of  heat  were  added?  
[92.59  kJ]  

16. How  many  kJ  of  heat  are  needed  to  completely  vaporize  50.0g  of  water  at  100°C?  
[113.  kJ]  

17. How  many  joules  are  required  to  convert  10.0g  of  solid  ethyl  alcohol  at  -­‐‑180.3°C  
to  the  vapor  state  at  the  boiling  point  of  78.3°C?  (C2H60)  
a. C  [solid  EtOH]  =  0.971J/g°C  
b. C  [liquid  EtOH]  =  2.30J/g°C  
c. The  melting  point  of  alcohol  is  -­‐‑117.3°C  
d. ∆Hfus=  218J/g    
e. ∆Hvap=  854  J/g.}  [13.1    kJ]  

18. When  ice  at  0.0°C  melts  to  liquid  water  at  0.0°C,  it  absorbs  0.334kJ  of  heat  per  
gram.    Suppose  the  heat  needed  to  melt  35.0-­‐‑g  of  ice  is  absorbed  from  the  water  
contained  in  a  glass.    If  this  water  has  a  mass  of  0.210kg  and  a  temperature  of  
21.0°C,  what  is  the  final  temperature  of  the  water?  [Note  that  you  will  have  35.0-­‐‑
g  of  water  at  0°C  from  the  ice.][6.63°C]  
19. Ammonia  boils  at  -­‐‑33.°C;  at  this  temperature  the  density  of  liquid  ammonia  is  
0.81  g/cm3.    Calculate  enthalpy  change  when  1.000  L  of  liquid  NH3  is  burned  in  
air  to  give  N2(g)  and  H2O(g).The  ∆H°ƒ  NH3(g)  =  –46.2  kJ/mol;  and  the  heat  of  
vaporization  of  ammonia∆H°vap  =  23.2kJ/mol.      
20. When  steam  condenses  to  liquid  water,  2.26  kJ  of  heat  is  released  per  gram,  the  
heat  from  124  g  of  steam  is  used  to  heat  a  room  (20.0  ftx12.0  ftx8.00ft)  containing  
6.44x  104  g  of  air.    The  specific  heat  of  air  at  normal  pressure  is  1.015  j/g•°C.    
What  is  the  change  in  air  temperature  assuming  all  the  heat  from  the  steam  is  
absorbed  only  by  the  air?  
21. An  ice  cube  tray  contains  enough  water  at  22.0°C  to  make  18  ice  cubes  that  each  
have  a  mass  of  30.0  g.    The  tray  is  placed  in  a  freezer  that  uses  CF2Cl2  as  a  
refrigerant.    The  heat  of  vaporization  CF2Cl2  is  158  kJ/g.    What  mass  of  CF2Cl2  
Thermochemistry  Problems   Page 3 of 7  
 must  be  vaporized  in  the  refrigeration  cycle  to  convert  all  of  the  water  at  22.0°C  
to  ice  at  -­‐‑5.0°C.    The  heat  capacities  for  water  and  ice  are  4.18  J/g-­‐‑°C  and  2.08  J/g-­‐‑
°C  respectively,  and  the  enthalpy  of  fusion  for  water  is  6.02  kJ/mol  
 

ANSWERS  
1. HC2H3O2(l)  + 2O2(g) ® CO2(g + 2H2O(l),
HC2H3O2(l)+ 4O2(g)
– 871.7 kJ ¯
2CO2(g + 2H2O(l)

2. The enthalpy of reaction is ∆H° prod -∆H° react. The reactant is at a higher potential than
the product. When the reaction occurs, heat is released, stabilizing the system and the
system moves to a lower energy potential.
3. The reaction is exothermic, the enthalpy is negative
[1] HC2H3O2(l) + 2O2(g) ® 2 CO2(g) + 2 H2O(l)
HC2H3O2(l) + 4 O2(g)
– 871.7 kJ ¯
2CO2(g) + 2 H2O(l)

[2] The enthalpy of reaction is ∆H° prod -∆H° react. The reactant is at a higher potential
than the product. When the reaction occurs, heat is released, stabilizing the system and the
system moves to a lower energy potential.

[3] The reaction is exothermic. The ∆H is negative.

1 mol Mg –1204 kJ
2.4 g MgX = 0.10 mol Mg X = –60.2 kJ
24.0 g Mg 2 mol Mg
2 mol MgO 40.0 g MgO
96 kJ X X = 6.4 g MgO
–1204 kJ 1 mol MgO
1 mol MgO +1204 kJ
7.50 g MgO X X = 113 Kj
40.0 g MgO 2 mol MgO
0.385 J 1K
[4] q= X 1.42 X 103 g Cu X (88.5°C – 25.0°C) X = 3.47 X104J
g–K 1°C
[5] First, find the energy that the solution either absorbed or released. Then relate that
amount of energy to the moles of NaOH
4.18 J
q sol = (100.0 g water + 6.50 g NaOH) X (37.8°C - 21.6°C) X = 7.211 X 103J
g°C
–7.211 kJ 39.90 g NaOH
∆H = X = 44.3 kJ/mol
6.50 g 1 mol NaOH
[6]
A ® B A
B ® C 60 kJ B ­ 30 kJ ­ 90 kJ
Total 90 kJ C ­ 60 kJ ­
[7] Hess’s law is a law of summations. Partial paths add to the desired path

Thermochemistry  Problems   Page 4 of 7  

 Given the following enthalpies of reaction:
P4O6(s) ® P4(s) + 3 O2(g) ∆H = +1640.1 kJ
P4(s) + 5 O2(g) ® P4O10(s) ∆H = -2940.1 kJ
P4O6(s) + 2 O2(g) ® P4O10(s) + 1640.1 kJ + –2940.1 kJ = – 1300.0 kJ

[8] H2(g) + F2(g) ® 2HF(g) ∆H = -537 kJ

2 C(s) + 4 F2(g) ® 2 CF4(g) ∆H = -680 kJ 2
C2H4(g) ® 2 C(s) + 2 H2(g) ∆H = – 52.3 kJ
C2H4(g) + 5 F2(g) ® 2 CF4(g) + 2 HF(g) ∆H = –1949.3 kJ

Thermochemistry  Problems   Page 5 of 7  

[9]
13
C4H10(l) + O2(g) ® 4 CO2(g) + 5 H2O(l)
2
-147.6 0 -393.5 -285.8
° 1 mol
1) ∆H =4 –393.5 + 5 X –285.8 –[–147.6] = –3151 kJ X X 1.0 g = -54.2 kJ
reaction 58.08 g
25
[10] C8H18 (l) + O2(g) ® 8 CO2(g) + 9 H2O (l) ∆ H° = -5461kJ
2
8 C(s) + 9 H2(g) ® C8H18(l) ∆H =??
–5461 kJ – [8 X –393.5 kJ + 9 X–285.8 kJ] = 259.2 kJ
[11] For this problem, we do not know the temperature change that either the brick or the
water is undergoing. We do know that q water = –q bricks. First, find the heat capacity, not the
specific heat of 1000 gal of water. Then, use that number to find the number of bricks.
4 qt 1L 1000 mL 1.00 g 4.18 J 7
C = 1.0 X 103 gal X X X X X = 1.582 X 10 J/°C
1 gal 1.0567 qt L 1 mL g°C
This is the same energy that many bricks absorbed.
1 brick 1g °C 1.582 ¥ 107J
no. of bricks = X X = 1.0 104 bricks
1.8¥103 g 0.85 J °C
[12] Write the equations for the energies given, find the moles of liquid ammonia

2 NH3(l) + 3 O2(g) ® N2(g) + 3 H2O(g) ∆H = ??

NH3(l) ® NH3(g) ∆H° = 23.2 kJ
1N2(g) + 3 H2(g) ® NH3(g) ∆H° = -46.2 kJ/mol

NH3(g) ® NH3(l); 1 N2(g) + 3 H2(g) ® NH3(g); 1 N2(g) + 3H2(g) ® NH3(l) ∆H° = -69.4 kJ/mol
∆H rxn = 3 X -241.8 –[2 -69.4] = 586.6 kJ/mol X 47.6 mol = -2.79 X 104 kJ

[13] 124 g steam X –2.26 kJ/g = -280.2 kJ released by steam

1.015 J
6.44 X 104 g air X X ∆T; ∆T = 4.28 °C MM camphor = 152.2g/mol;
g°C

[14]

1 mol
[15] 0.1204 g X X –5903.6 kJ, mol) = -4.670 kJ
152.2 g
+4.670 kJ absorbed by calorimeter
= 2.05 kJ/°C
2.28 °C temp change
[16] Total mass of water in the ice tray: 18 X 30.0 = 540. g
H2O(l) 22 °C ® H2O(l) 0°C 4.185J/g°C X 540. g X (-22°C) = -4.97 104J
H2O(l) 0°C ® H2O(s)0°C 540. g X 6.02 kJ/g = -3.25 X 103kJ
H2O(s) 0°C ® H2O(s) -5°C 540.g X (–5°C)X 2.08 J/g °C =-5.62 X 103 J
–3.30 X 106 J
1g
3.30 X 106 J absorbed X = 20.9 g refrigerant
158 kJ
Thermochemistry  Problems   Page 6 of 7  
Thermochemistry  Problems   Page 7 of 7