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Ch.9 - Thermochemistry: Chemical Energy
Chapter 9, Problem 154

Hydrazine, a component of rocket fuel, undergoes combus- tion to yield N2 and H2O: N2H41l2 + O21g2 S N21g2 + 2 H2O1l2 (b) Use the following information to set up a Hess's law cycle, and then calculate ΔH° for the combustion reac- tion. You will need to use fractional coefficients for some equations. 2 NH31g2 + 3 N2O1g2 S 4 N21g2 + 3 H2O1l2 ΔH° = - 1011.2 kJ N2O1g2 + 3 H21g2 S N2H41l2 + H2O1l2 ΔH° = - 317.2 kJ 4 NH31g2 + O21g2 S 2 N2H41l2 + 2 H2O1l2 ΔH° = - 286.0 kJ H2O1l2 ΔH°f = - 285.8 kJ>mol

Verified step by step guidance
1
Identify the target reaction: N_2H_4(l) + O_2(g) \rightarrow N_2(g) + 2 H_2O(l).
Write the given reactions and their enthalpy changes: (1) 2 NH_3(g) + 3 N_2O(g) \rightarrow 4 N_2(g) + 3 H_2O(l), \Delta H^\circ = -1011.2 \text{ kJ}; (2) N_2O(g) + 3 H_2(g) \rightarrow N_2H_4(l) + H_2O(l), \Delta H^\circ = -317.2 \text{ kJ}; (3) 4 NH_3(g) + O_2(g) \rightarrow 2 N_2H_4(l) + 2 H_2O(l), \Delta H^\circ = -286.0 \text{ kJ}.
Use Hess's Law to manipulate the given reactions to derive the target reaction. This involves reversing and/or scaling the reactions to match the target reaction's stoichiometry.
Reverse reaction (2) to get N_2H_4(l) + H_2O(l) \rightarrow N_2O(g) + 3 H_2(g), and change the sign of \Delta H^\circ to +317.2 \text{ kJ}.
Combine the manipulated reactions to cancel out intermediates and obtain the target reaction, then sum the \Delta H^\circ values to find the \Delta H^\circ for the target reaction.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Hess's Law

Hess's Law states that the total enthalpy change for a chemical reaction is the same, regardless of the number of steps taken to complete the reaction. This principle allows chemists to calculate the enthalpy change of a reaction by using known enthalpy changes of other reactions, facilitating the determination of ΔH° for complex reactions like combustion.
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Standard Enthalpy of Formation (ΔH°f)

The standard enthalpy of formation (ΔH°f) is the change in enthalpy when one mole of a compound is formed from its elements in their standard states. This value is crucial for calculating the enthalpy change of reactions using Hess's Law, as it provides a reference point for the energy content of reactants and products.
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Combustion Reaction

A combustion reaction is a chemical process in which a substance reacts rapidly with oxygen, producing heat and light. In the case of hydrazine, the combustion reaction yields nitrogen gas (N2) and water (H2O), and understanding the stoichiometry and enthalpy changes associated with this reaction is essential for calculating the overall energy release during combustion.
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Combustion Apparatus