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 1.00 g of coal is burned in a bomb calorimeter, the temperature increases by 1.48 °C. If the heat capacity of the calorimeter is 21.6 kJ/°C, determine the heat produced by combustion of a ton of coal (2.000 × 103 pounds).

a) 1.75 × 10⁸ J
b) 1.75 × 10⁵ J
c) 1.75 × 10³ J
d) 1.75 × 10⁶ J

Answer 1

The heat produced by combustion of a ton of coal can be calculated using the heat produced by 1 gram of coal and converting it to the heat produced by a ton of coal.

The heat produced by combustion of a ton of coal is 1.75 × 10^6 J.

Step-by-step explanation:

To determine the heat produced by combustion of a ton of coal, we need to calculate the heat produced by 1 gram of coal and then convert it to the heat produced by a ton of coal.

Given that 1.00 g of coal burned in a bomb calorimeter causes a temperature increase of 1.48 °C and the heat capacity of the calorimeter is 21.6 kJ/°C, we can use the formula q = mcΔT to calculate the heat produced by 1 gram of coal.

Using this value, we can then convert it to the heat produced by a ton of coal.

Given that there are 2.000 × 10^3 pounds in a ton and there are 453.6 grams in a pound, we can calculate the heat produced by a ton of coal.

Therefore, the heat produced by combustion of a ton of coal is 1.75 × 10^6 J (option d).