Question

One method of generating electricity is by burning coal to heat water, which produces steam that drives an electric generator. To determine the rate at which coal is to be fed into the burner in this type of plant, the heat of combustion per ton of coal must be determined using a bomb calorimeter. When 1.00g of coal is burned in a bomb calorimeter (figure 5.17), the temperature increases by 1.48˚C. If the heat capacity of the calorimeter is 21.6 kJ/˚C, determine the heat produced by the combustion of a ton of coal (2.000 × 10³).

Short answer

The heat of combustion for 1 ton of coal is 2.90 × 10⁷kJ.

Step-by-step solution

Given data

The mass of the fructose = 1.0 g

The increase in the temperature (∆T) = +1.48˚C

We have to find the heat produced by the combustion of a ton of coal (2000 pounds).

Heat of combustion

The formula that is used in finding the heat of the combustion(q) in a bomb calorimeter = C × ∆T. The values are substituted in the equation q = C × ∆T.

q = 21.6KJ/˚C × 1.48˚C

= 31.968 kJ

Therefore, for 1ton(=2000pounds)= 2000 × 453.592g = 907184g

[1 pound= 453.592 g]

The heat of the combustion of 1ton(=907184g) coal = 31.968kJ/g × 907184g

= 2.9 × 10⁷kJ