Calculating the Heat of Combustion of Wax

Purpose: The purpose of this lab experiment is to calculate the molar heat of combustion of
paraffin wax, C25H52, and to write a thermochemical equation for the combustion of wax.

PreLab:

1. Balance this equation:

C25H52 + 38 O2 → 25 CO2 + 26 H2O

2. Calculate the molar mass of wax.

𝐶25 = 300. 275 𝐻52 = 52. 4056 𝐶25𝐻52 = 300. 275 + 52. 4056 𝐶25𝐻52 = 352. 6806
352.7

Procedure:
Watch this video: https://us-lti.bbcollab.com/collab/ui/session/playback

Data:

Mass of Water (g) 98.160g

Initial Temp or Water (C) 22.6 C

Mass of candle before burning (g) 11.485g

Mass of candle after burning (g) 11.375g

Final temp of water (C) 32.6 C

Calculations:

1. Calculate the heat change (q) for the water

𝑞 = (98. 160)(4. 184)(10) 𝑞 = 4, 107. 01
2. Determine the heat change for the wax
𝑞 = − 4, 107. 01
3. Calculate the mass of wax USED
𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑥 𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑑 = 𝑐𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑙𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒 − 𝑐𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑙𝑒 𝑎𝑓𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑥 = 11. 485 − 11. 375
𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑥 𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑑 = 0. 11𝑔
4. Convert mass of wax used to moles of wax used
( 0.11𝑔
1 )( 1 𝑚𝑜𝑙
352.7𝑔 )= 0. 00031 3. 1𝐸
−4

5. Convert heat change for wax from J to kJ

− 4, 107. 01/1000 = − 4. 10701 𝑘𝐽
6. Calculate the heat of combustion of wax in kJ/mol
−4.10701 𝑘𝑗
𝑘𝑗/𝑚𝑜𝑙 = 𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑏𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 0.00031 𝑚𝑜𝑙
=− 13, 248. 42 𝑘𝐽/𝑚𝑜𝑙
7. Write the thermochemical equation for the heat of combustion of wax
C25H52 + 38 O2 → 25 CO2 + 26 H2O + 13, 248. 42 𝑘𝐽/𝑚𝑜𝑙