Final answer:
To calculate the enthalpy of vaporization from vapor pressures, both the graphical method and the least squares fitting routine are suitable, with the former providing a visual approach and the latter offering potential for greater accuracy.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the enthalpy of vaporization of propane using the given vapor pressures, the most suitable method would be a graphical method or a least squares fitting routine. Both methods have their use in analyzing the temperature dependence of vapor pressure and retrieving thermodynamic information like the enthalpy of vaporization. The graphical method involves plotting the vapor pressure data onto a graph and using the Clausius-Clapeyron equation to find the slope, which is related to the enthalpy of vaporization. A linear regression via the least squares fitting routine will also provide an estimate of the slope, which can be used to calculate the enthalpy of vaporization with potentially greater accuracy due to its minimization of the sum of the squared differences between the observed and expected values.
Comparing the two methods, while the graphical method offers a visual representation, the least squares method is often considered to be more precise, particularly when dealing with a larger dataset, or when measurement errors are suspected to be present. Ultimately, both methods can be employed, with the choice potentially influenced by the specifics of the dataset and the desired level of accuracy.