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Make a prediction about whether CH, will be an energy dense fuel. Why or why not?​

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Final answer:

Methane (CH4) is an energy dense fuel due to its high energy content upon combustion and its status as a major constituent of natural gas, although its energy density is not as high as that of natural gas. Its conversion from gaseous to liquid form is endothermic, which means that in its liquid state, it is not as energy dense as in gaseous form. However, it remains a viable option for applications requiring dense fuel.

Step-by-step explanation:

To make a prediction about whether CH (assumed to be methane, CH4) would be an energy dense fuel, we must consider its heat of combustion and physical state. Based on its molecular structure and comparisons with other hydrocarbons, we can infer that CH4 has a high energy content due to its four hydrogen atoms bound to a single carbon atom, which upon combustion, releases a significant amount of energy.

Looking at the provided information, notably that 2 C6H6 (g) → 2 CH (g), the assumption is CH refers to methane (CH4), which, when burned, would produce carbon dioxide and water, releasing energy in the process. Additionally, the energy density of methane is lower than that of natural gas, but it's still relatively high at 5-8 kcal/g. This indicates that methane is indeed an energy dense fuel, although not as dense as natural gas. However, the conversion of methane from gas to liquid (CH4 (g) to CH4 (l)) is an endothermic process, meaning it requires energy, suggesting that in its liquid form, methane is less energy dense compared to when it is in the gaseous state.

Considering the dense fuel properties and energy content, methane (CH4) is, in fact, an energy dense fuel and potentially a viable option for high-energy applications like transportation, where the high energy density of a fuel is critical.

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