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NEET CHEMISTRYHard

The standard free energies of formation (in kJ/mol\text{kJ/mol}) at 298 K298 \text{ K} are 237.2-237.2, 394.4-394.4, and 8.2-8.2 for H2O(l)\text{H}_2\text{O(l)}, CO2(g)\text{CO}_2\text{(g)}, and pentane (g), respectively. The value of EcellE^\circ_{\text{cell}} for the pentane-oxygen fuel cell is:

A

1.968 V1.968 \text{ V}

B

2.0968 V2.0968 \text{ V}

C

1.0968 V1.0968 \text{ V}

D

0.0968 V0.0968 \text{ V}

Step-by-Step Solution

The combustion reaction for the pentane-oxygen fuel cell is: C5H12(g)+8O2(g)5CO2(g)+6H2O(l)\text{C}_5\text{H}_{12}\text{(g)} + 8\text{O}_2\text{(g)} \rightarrow 5\text{CO}_2\text{(g)} + 6\text{H}_2\text{O(l)}

First, calculate the standard Gibbs free energy change (ΔrG\Delta_r G^\circ) for the reaction: ΔrG=ΔfG(products)ΔfG(reactants)\Delta_r G^\circ = \sum \Delta_f G^\circ(\text{products}) - \sum \Delta_f G^\circ(\text{reactants}) ΔrG=[5×ΔfG(CO2)+6×ΔfG(H2O)][ΔfG(C5H12)+8×ΔfG(O2)]\Delta_r G^\circ = [5 \times \Delta_f G^\circ(\text{CO}_2) + 6 \times \Delta_f G^\circ(\text{H}_2\text{O})] - [\Delta_f G^\circ(\text{C}_5\text{H}_{12}) + 8 \times \Delta_f G^\circ(\text{O}_2)] ΔrG=[5(394.4)+6(237.2)][8.2+8(0)]\Delta_r G^\circ = [5(-394.4) + 6(-237.2)] - [-8.2 + 8(0)] ΔrG=[1972.01423.2]+8.2\Delta_r G^\circ = [-1972.0 - 1423.2] + 8.2 ΔrG=3395.2+8.2=3387.0 kJ/mol=3387000 J/mol\Delta_r G^\circ = -3395.2 + 8.2 = -3387.0 \text{ kJ/mol} = -3387000 \text{ J/mol}

Next, determine the number of moles of electrons transferred (nn) in the balanced reaction. In 8O28\text{O}_2, there are 1616 oxygen atoms going from an oxidation state of 00 to 2-2. Thus, n=16×2=32n = 16 \times 2 = 32 electrons. Alternatively, for carbon in C5H12\text{C}_5\text{H}_{12}, the average oxidation state is 12/5-12/5, and it changes to +4+4 in CO2\text{CO}_2. Total change for 55 carbon atoms =5×[4(12/5)]=5×(32/5)=32= 5 \times [4 - (-12/5)] = 5 \times (32/5) = 32.

Using the relation between ΔG\Delta G^\circ and EcellE^\circ_{\text{cell}}: ΔrG=nFEcell\Delta_r G^\circ = -nFE^\circ_{\text{cell}} 3387000 J/mol=32×96500 C/mol×Ecell-3387000 \text{ J/mol} = -32 \times 96500 \text{ C/mol} \times E^\circ_{\text{cell}} Ecell=338700032×96500=338700030880001.0968 VE^\circ_{\text{cell}} = \frac{3387000}{32 \times 96500} = \frac{3387000}{3088000} \approx 1.0968 \text{ V}.

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