Question Details

An electrochemical cell is fueled by the combustion of butane at  1  bar and  298  K . Its cell potential is  X F × 10 3 volts,

where  F  is the Faraday constant. The value of  X  is _____
Use: Standard Gibbs energies of formation at  298 K  are :
Δ f G CO 2 = 394 kJ mol 1 ; Δ f G water = 237 kJ mol 1 ; Δ f G butane = 18 kJ mol 1

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Correct Answer :

105.50

Solution :

The correct answer is 105.50.

To find the value of X, we need to determine the standard cell potential for the combustion of butane.

First, we write the balanced chemical equation for the combustion of butane (C4H10):
C4H10(g)+132O2(g)4CO2(g)+5H2O(l)

The standard Gibbs energy change of the reaction (ΔrG) is calculated as:
ΔrG=[4ΔfG(CO2)+5ΔfG(water)]-[ΔfG(butane)+132ΔfG(O2)]

Substituting the given standard Gibbs energies of formation:
ΔfG(CO2)=-394 kJ/mol
ΔfG(water)=-237 kJ/mol
ΔfG(butane)=-18 kJ/mol
ΔfG(O2)=0 kJ/mol

Calculating the value:
ΔrG=[4(-394)+5(-237)]-[-18+0]
ΔrG=[-1576-1185]+18
ΔrG=-2761+18=-2743 kJ/mol=-2743×103 J/mol

Next, we determine the number of electrons transferred (n) in this reaction. We look at the reduction of oxygen:
132O2+26e-13O2-
Therefore, n=26 electrons are transferred.

The relation between the standard Gibbs energy change and the cell potential is:
ΔrG=-nFE
Substitute the values into the equation:
-2743×103=-26×F×E
E=2743×10326F=2743/26F×103
E=105.50F×103 V

Comparing this with the given potential form XF×103 V:
X=105.50

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