Answer: The thermal energy that would be released by 276.0g of sodium acetate trihydrate is 71.8kJ.
Step-by-step explanation:
Supercooling is the process of lowering the temperature a liquid below its freezing point, without it becoming solid. A liquid below its freezing point will crystallize in the presence of a seed crystal because it serves as a structure for formation of crystals. From the question,
The given mass of sodium acetate trihydrate
(CH3COONa.3H2O)= 276.0g
Molar mass of sodium acetate
trihydrate= 136.08g/mol
Thermal heat of fusion of sodium acetate
trihydrate = 35.9 kJ/mol
From the given mass the number of moles present= 276.0/ 136.08
= 2.0moles
Therefore the heat (thermal) energy of the given mass of sodium acetate
trihydrate = 2.0 × 35.9
= 71.8kJ
Therefore, upon addition of a small seed crystal, the solution temperature increases as sodium acetate trihydrate crystallizes.